What is remarkable about these four red wines from Sicily is that the even the two least expensive bottles, made primarily from Nerello Mascalese, are great! The 2017 Calabretta, Gaio Gaio, Etna is my favorite for drinking right now. Calabretta consistently releases top-notch wines at low prices and this particular bottling is beautiful. The 2017 Tenuta delle Terre Nere, Etna Rosso is also approachable now. It offers more stuffing up front but then a chalky, floral finish speaks of the island. The 2017 Occhipinti, SP68, Sicily is a different blend being Frappato with Nero d’Avola. It is not offering as much as I would like so try it again in a year. The 2014 Calabretta, Pinot Nero, Etna needs time too but it has the goods! I recently bought these wines at MacArthur Beverages.
2017 Calabretta, Gaio Gaio, Etna – $17
Imported by Williams Corner Wines. This wine is 100% Nerello Mascalese sourced from old vines. It was aged in large, old oak containers. Alcohol 14%. Aromatic berries on the nose. Crunchy, rosemary infused strawberry flavors. This is a beautiful wine with good presence and length in the finish. It has the structure and acidity for some years. *** Now – 2024.
2014 Calabretta, Pinot Nero, Etna – $25
Imported by Williams Corner Wines. Fairly robust at first, the intensity is surprising but then this is clearly an outstanding vintage. There is a core of fruit and puckering acidity which will see this through development. It remains tight so a good candidate for the cellar. *** 2022-2027.
2017 Occhipinti, SP68, Sicily – $26
Imported by Louis/Dressner. A blend of mostly Frappato with Nero d’Avola which was fermented then aged in concrete tanks. Alcohol 12.5%. Scented red fruit on the nose. Bright in the mouth, a little earth, certainly tart with modest structure. Lively but the tart, ripe structure needs to resolve. **(*) 2020-2025.
2017 Tenuta delle Terre Nere, Etna Rosso – $19
Imported by deGrazia Imports. This wine is a blend of 95% Nerello Mascalese and 5% Nerello Cappuccio Alcohol 14%. Flavorful, almost robust, certainly impressive for the stuffing. Firm red candy then a mineral, chalky vein before the lifted, floral finish. *** Now – 2024.
