A thousand and one nights… A Sicilian affair.
I’ve always been a fan of the Sicilian grape Nero d’Avola. With its pinot noir like look but smoky, earthy mouthfeel, it’s been a great addition to my regular wine rotation since the day I first had one. TLDR; Nero is amazing. But, this particular Nero d’Avola, Donnafugata Mille e una Notte 2012, is off the charts amazing! I have never tasted anything like it before. As the wine’s being poured out of the bottle, you first notice the color. For a Nero grape, the wine is unusually dark with a ruby red color that’s half-translucent. As you bring the glass closer to your face, the next thing you notice is the bouquet; the nose is full of plush red fruit. The fruit is still there on the first sip, but it evolves into more black fruit on the palatte; think plum and blackberries. And then comes all the delicious earthy notes; chocolate, leather, balsamic, exotic spices and some oak features jump right at you, and they are so powerful that the signature volcanic soil smokiness is almost not even there. This is when you realize that there must be more than just Nero d’Avola to this wine and you are right; while Nero makes up most of the wine, Petit Verdot and Syrah play a role as well; though the vineyard keeps the exact composition a secret. The mouthfeel is also something else; the silky tannins make your mouth rejoice, as you enjoy a really long finish. Despite how big and bold this wine is, the acidity is incredibly vibrant, keeping the wine fresh. To top it all, the wine label is one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen and it has a cool story behind it. Donnafugata means ‘woman in flight’ and it is a reference to Queen Maria Carolina who fled to Sicily from Naples in the 1800’s as Napoleon’s troops arrived. Where she found refuge in Sicily were the vineyards that are now planted that make this wine. This story is depicted on the wine label with a woman’s windblown hair. This is a must-try from Sicily.
Under $25 dry Rieslings
When it comes to affordable dry Riesling, look no further than New York’s very own; the Finger Lakes. Most recent vintages (2017, 2018) will drink great today.
Washington State, Oregon and California are other wine regions in the US that produce Riesling, but be picky. My go-to’s are: