Sicily has come a long way in the last decade in producing top class wines that emphasize the distinctive quality of its climates and soils, and this year’s release of wines from the island’s top wine producers is its best ever – particularly the wines from Etna.
Last summer, I tasted close to 200 wines from the island and I found a wonderful range of styles and flavors from rich yet subtle Nero d’Avolas to minerally and racy Chardonnays. I already discussed the greatness of wines from the volcanic growing region of Etna a few weeks ago in a tasting report. Click here to read the report.
Here in this report are more great Sicilian wines to consider.
I also included the wines from the Sardinian producer of Argiolas whose wonderful red, Turriga, has long been one of the most exciting Southern Italian reds. I tasted a number of different vintages. Agricola Punica is also included. Its owners are also makers of Tuscany’s legendary red Sassicaia. This is one to follow from Sardinia.
The 90 or so tasting notes in this report are those that were not published in the Etna review, although I have included the scores from before. For me, Etna is currently the most exciting growing region with Noto following a close second. The former is the best area for producing wines from mostly Nerello Mascalese while the later is tops for Nero d’Avola.
The Planeta family has vineyards all over Sicily. And they believe that Noto produces Nero’s d’Avolas with the most finesse and structure, giving them a top breeding. “Nero d’Avola from other parts of Sicily are often overly jammy and rustic,” admitted Alessio Planeta, during a visit earlier this year at his winery in Noto. “Here the climate is cooler, producing grapes with better acidities and more refined character.”
Indeed, Nero d’Avola is a grape in Sicily that has not yet reached its full potential for quality. And I think there is a big upside for Sicilian wineries with the grape. Another is the white grape Grillo, which can make wines in the same style as rich and minerally Viognier. We are only now seeing Grillos with finesse and length.
International grape types have long been excellent in Sicily. I prefer Syrah and Chardonnay compared to Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, for example. But some Bordeaux blends work from top producers such as Planeta and Tasca d’Almerita as well as Super Sicilian mixtures that combine local and international grape types.
These Super Sicilian blends are making some of the best wines for the money in Italy – particularly from wineries such as Cusumano. “It’s amazing that our area is so generous in enabling us to make such excellent wines with such excellent prices,” admitted Diego Cusumano. “Sometimes it even surprises me.”
Also tasted, but not receiving marks of 90 points or more:
2010 Baglio del Cristo di Campobello Sicilia Adenzia
2010 Baglio del Sole Merlot Syrah Sicilia
2010 Baglio del Sole Nero d'Avola Sicilia
2006 Baglio del Sole Sicilia Cembali
2007 Baglio di Pianetto Merlot-Nero d'Avola Sicilia Ramione
2010 Baglio di Pianetto Syrah-Merlot Sicilia Shymer
NV Benanti Sicilia Noblesse Brut Metodo Classico
2011 Colosi Grillo Sicilia
2009 Colosi Nerello Mascalese Sicilia
2011 Colosi Sicilia
2007 Cottanera Sicilia L'Ardenza
2011 Cusumano Insolia Sicilia
2011 Cusumano Nero d'Avola Syrah Sicilia Benuara
2011 Donnafugata Nero d'Avola Sicilia Sherazade
2009 Feudi del Pisciotto Cerasuolo di Vittoria Giambattista Valli Paris
2009 Feudi del Pisciotto Merlot Sicilia Valentino
2010 Feudo Montoni Nerello Mascalese Sicilia NM
2010 Feudo Principi di Butera Nero d'Avola Sicilia
2009 Firriato Sicilia L'Ecru Passito
2011 MandraRossa Nero d'Avola Cabernet Sauvignon Sicilia Bonera
2011 MandraRossa Sauvignon Blanc Sicilia Urra di Mare
2011 MandraRossa Sicilia Cavadiserpe
2010 Planeta Sicilia Plumbago
2011 Planeta Syrah Sicilia
Previously tasted in the
Etna report:
2010 Pietradolce Etna Vigna Barbarbagalli 99-100
2010 Terre Nere Etna Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino 97
2011 Girolamo Russo Etna San Lorenzo 95-96
2010 Girolamo Russo Etna San Lorenzo 95
2009 Pietradolce Etna Archineri 95
2010 Terre Nere Etna Calderara Sottana 95
2010 Graci Etna Quota 1000 94-95
2002 Benanti Etna Serra della Contessa 94
2010 Pietradolce Etna Archineri 94
2010 Terre Nere Etna Bianco Cuvee Delle Vigne Niche 94
2010 Terre Nere Etna Guardiola 94
2010 Terre Nere Etna Santo Spirito 94
2010 Biondi Sicilia CIsterna Fuori 93
2009 Cottanera Etna 93
2010 Cottanera Etna Barbazzale 93
2010 Girolamo Russo Etna Feudo 93
2010 Passopisciaro Sicilia 93
2010 Passopisciaro Sicilia Contrada P 93
2011 Pietradolce Etna Archineri 93
2009 Sasa Etna 93
2010 Tasca d'Almerita Tascante 93
2010 Terre Nere Etna Feudo di Mezzo Il Quadro delle Rose 93
2011 Terre Nere Etna Rosso 93
2010 Terre Nere Le Vigne di Eli Etna Moganazzi - Volta Sciara 93
2011 Graci Etna 92-93
2000 Benanti Etna Serra della Contessa 92
2008 Biondi Etna Outis 92
2011 Biondi Sicilia Chianta 92
2011 Cottanera Etna Barbazzale 92
2008 Cottanera Etna Etnarosso 92
2008 Duca di Salaparuta Sicilia Vajasindi Lavico Nerello Mascalese 92
2010 Girolamo Russo Etna a' Rina 92
2008 Girolamo Russo Etna San Lorenzo 92
2010 Graci Etna 92
2010 Graci Etna Quota 600 92
2010 Passopisciaro Sicilia Contrada R 92
2009 Pietro Caciorgna Etna Nanticchia 92
2011 Terre Nere Etna Rosato 92
2005 Benanti Etna Rovitttello 91
2004 Benanti Etna Serra della Contessa 91
2008 Biondi Etna MI 91
NV Frank Corelissen Etna Munjebel 8 91
2010 Graci Etna 91
2008 Pietradolce Etna Archineri 91
2010 Pietro Caciorgna Etna 91
2011 Planeta Sicilia Carricante 91
2009 Tasca d'Almerita Sicilia Tascante 91
2010 Benanti Etna Biancodicaselle 90
2005 Benanti Etna Il Monovitigno Nerello Mascalese 90
2006 Benanti Etna Serra della Contessa 90
2010 Biondi Etna Outis 90
2011 Cottanera Etna Etnabianco 90
2011 Cottanera Sicilia Barbazzale 90
2009 Cottanera Sicilia Fatagione 90
2008 Cottanera Sicilia Grammonte 90
2009 Cottanera Sicilia Sole di Sesta 90
2009 Feudo Vagliasindi Etna 90
2011 Graci Etna Etna Blanco 90
2011 Pietradolce Sicilia Rosato 90
2010 Scilio Etna Orpheus 90
2010 Tasca d'Almerita Sicilia Ghiaia Nera 90
2011 Tenuta di Fessina Sicilia Nerello Cappuccino 90
2011 Terre Nere Etna Bianco 90
2009 Wiegner Sicilia Treterre 90
