91pts James Suckling

An easy wine with plum and sour cherry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with round tannins and a soft and velvety finish showing just a hint of dried peaches at the end.

Winemaker Notes

Alberello trained (bush trained) vines are 12-34 years old, and have been planted with a southern exposure at 250 feet elevation, about one mile from the sea. Grape yields are low (about 2.5 tons/acre) to encourage concentration and complexity in the wine. In the spring, the vines are pruned to one bud per plant, and in June/July, a green harvest is performed to eliminate lesser grapes. Twenty days prior to harvest, the vines go through an additional cluster thinning, or a selection of the best grapes in the bunch.

About halfway between Avola (the town that lends its name to this grape variety) and Pachino (famed for its IGP Tomatoes) lie the south-facing vineyards of Feudo Maccari, where bush vine Nero d’Avola soaks up the near endless Sicilian sunshine. Here is a lovely vibrant example, with a succulent and juicy prune compote character, with notes of chocolate and warm spice.

Great with full-flavoured meats such as roast lamb or beef.