May 20, 2020 - Nice - based upon my previous note in January, this bottle is showing better. Good acidity and persistence.
An earthy, rustic nose with black & red fruit. The acidity really makes this pretty lively on the palate. Sadly, my last bottle.
January 9, 2020 - Not bad, but missing that "excitement" element, if you will. Somewhat four square on the palate, with decent persistence, but maybe a touch less acidity than I normally look for.
April 1, 2015 - A private dinner (Restaurant Atelier Crenn **, San Francisco, California, USA): A blend of 60% Nerello Mascalese, 30% Nerello Cappuccio and 10% Nocera. Medium deep, sombre colour, mature but lively; impressive nose, roses and bitters from the stems, amaro spices and garrigue, almonds and cherries, deep minerality; the bright and lively acidity has integrated well, pure and clean, good phenolics from the skins, granite minerality, medium body, hint of apple in the flavours; good length.
January 11, 2015 - Flat fruit and a little cheese and coffee on the nose. Spicy and inviting like welcoming log in the fire. The fruit is lovely but it's calling from far away. Austere on the front palate but then that fruit gently builds -- almost sneaks up on you. Plays beautifully with hot red peppers and Southern Italian food.
September 11, 2014 - Nerello-based wines are often compared to pinot, but this bottle more resembles an aglianico or even a basic Barolo. Deep pitched red, with mineral, soil, tar, and volcanic rock notes (though the Faro soils are not like those in Etna). Medium body, relatively food friendly. Very good now, I wonder how this would age?
March 21, 2014 - Slightly murky at the core, but generally translucent ruby on the rim - clearly darker in color than the Passopisciaro wines I have tried from Sicily. Very developed/complex nose, with black & red fruits, an almost "meatiness" as well, hints of smoke - a lot going on here.
Very sleek/linear on the palate, fruit framed by bright acidity, with a tannic bite to the finish. While the nose indicated secondary nuances, the palate is very primary. My first exposure to this producer, but this wine strikes me as one that will age effortlessly.
August 13, 2013 - red berry/cherry fruit, leather and a hint of spice.good levels of acidity together with grippy tannins followed by a long finish.elegant
March 4, 2013 - Seminario sulla sensorialità - Porthos, Roma: (degustato alla cieca) mediterraneo da far spavento. naso molto molto bello. in bocca sfodera calore e acidità. un vino splendido