This Week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous
Eduardo Torres Acosta
Pirrera Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese 2020
The 2020 Nerello Mascalese Pirrera is delicate and coy in the glass, showing just nuances of rose and black cherry contrasted by dusty earth. Silky and refined, it washes across the palate with a pure blend of red and wild blueberry fruit. A mineral staining adds tension toward the close. It finishes structured and long with a citrus concentration to balance as tart raspberry and sage slowly taper off. Patience will be required to tame this structured Etna Rosso. (Eric Guido, Vinous, September 2023)
— a year ago
Arianna Occhipinti
Sicilia Il Frappato 2020
More like a spiced herbal tea than wine in the glass, the 2020 Il Frappato wafts up with a smoky mix of dusty rose, sage, allspice and crushed ashen stone. This is pure and delicate in feel, with a salty flourish up front that gives way to citrus-tinged wild berries and red plums. It leaves the palate completely refreshed, tapering off with a staining of liquid inner florals and licorice nuances. While I don’t see the 2020 making old bones, it would benefit from a short stay in the cellar to help unlock more of its aromatic profile. It’s an understated beauty. (Eric Guido, Vinous, September 2023)
— a year ago
Federico Curtaz
Gamma Etna Bianco Carricante 2020
The 2020 Etna Bianco Gamma is more savory than sweet, with a mineral-inflected blend of crushed rocks, young peach and lemon oil. It's round yet takes on a crunchy feel. Tart orchard fruits and citrus tones collide over a core of zesty acidity. This leaves a tropical floral flourish along with saline minerals as the mouth is left watering and nectarine hints slowly fade. (Eric Guido, Vinous, September 2023)
— a year ago
Benanti
Pietra Marina Etna Bianco Superiore Carricante 2018
The 2018 Etna Bianco Superiore Pietra Marina captivates with a savory blend of crushed rocks, raw almonds and musky dried apricot. It's deeply textural with a saline tinge to its orchard fruits and brisk acidity that maintains energy throughout. The 2018 leaves a lemon and mineral twang through the long, lightly structured finale as hints of liquid stone linger. The PietraMarina is currently wrapped up tight with youthful poise, yet it should blossom beautifully in a few years. (Eric Guido, Vinous, September 2023)
— a year ago
Arianna Occhipinti
SP68 Bianco Terre Siciliane Albanello Muscat of Alexandria 2022
Pungent florals, ground ginger and grapefruit form a zesty bouquet as the 2022 Bianco SP68 opens in the glass. It’s soft and round. Juicy acidity and tropical citrus tones enliven its tart orchard fruits. This finishes surprisingly long, leaving exotic inner florals and sour melon notes to fade slowly. What a treat. The SP68 Bianco is a blend of Albana and Zibibbo. (Eric Guido, Vinous, September 2023)
— a year ago
Eduardo Torres Acosta
Versante Nord Uve Bianche Terre Siciliane Minnella Blend 2021
Dusty and floral, the 2021 Uve Bianche Versant Nord lifts with a savory blend of dried flowers, peaches complicated and wet stone. It's round and soothing with ripe orchard fruits and tactile mineral tones. This finishes clean with a peppery-herbal tinge. The Versant Nord Uve Bianche is a blend of Minella, Carricante, Catarratto, Grecanico and Inzolia. (Eric Guido, Vinous, September 2023)
— a year ago
Calabretta
Vigne Vecchie Sicilia Nerello Mascalese 2014
The dark and dusty 2014 Nerello Mascalese Vigna Vecchie smolders up with a blend of medicinal blackberries, cherries, balsam herbs and licorice. This flows across the palate like pure silk, yet with building tension. Tart wild berry fruits saturate, and a nervous acidity puckers the cheeks. The 2014 tapers off staining, long and structured, as a coating of fine tannin resonates, and violet inner florals fade. At times, the 2014 reminds me more of a Barolo than a Nerello Mascalese. However, now almost ten years old, it still requires cellaring to come fully into balance. (Eric Guido, Vinous, September 2023)
— a year ago
Delectable Wine
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The 2021 Cerasuolo di Vittoria is perfumed with sweet florals and sugar-dusted blackberries wafting up from the glass. It's soft and round, showing crisp red and blue fruits underscored by saline minerals. Fine tannins frame the finale, contrasted by a tart tinge of zesty citrus and residual acids that maintain a lovely inner freshness. Very nice. (Eric Guido, Vinous, September 2023)
— a year ago