2018 Feudo Maccari 'Neré' Nero d’Avola Sicily

Winemaker Notes:  Deep scarlet-red in color. Brilliant and intense. The nose reveals decisive scents of red currant and blackberry, followed by spicy and balsamic hints of black pepper and eucalyptus. The vines are alberello trained (bush trained), are 12-34 years old, and have been planted with a southern exposure at 250 feet elevation, about one mile from the sea. 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. To develop superior color and aromas, the wine undergoes a 15-day maceration at 8.6°F before fermentation with regular punching down, and is aged in steel tanks to retain the grape's fresh, crisp, red berry characters.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


James Suckling - "A polished, refined nero d’avola with blackberries, black olives and blueberries. Hints of stones. Full-bodied with a nicely formed palate and a long, linear finish. A cooler style, compared with the often jammy rendition of this grape. "


Vinous - "The 2018 Nero d’Avola Neré is a fruit-forward effort that draws you close with a display of sweet violets, crushed black berries and exotic spice. It’s soft with a noticeable inner sweetness, counterbalanced by tart woodland berries and a twang of peppery herbs. A concentration of primary fruits saturates the palate through the finale, providing a pleasantly tactile feel. All of that said, the Neré is, while balanced, all about immediate satisfaction. "