2012 Calabretta Nerello Mascalese Sicilia Vigne Vecchie

Community Tasting Notes (22) Avg Score: 92.5 points

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  2/1/2024 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot Likes this wine: 91 Points

  I loved this last year and so opened another one to check in. It's still pretty dang good.
  
  Olive tapenade, tea leaves, colatura di alici, cocoa powder, tobaccco, ripe black cherries and ripe red raspberries on the nose. Astringent, with a medium intensity of aromas. It smells like it's going to be elegant and subtl. The palate is actually a bit bigger; showing the same black cherries but acccompanied by ripe blueberries, tomato leaf, lemon juice, fennel seed and bitter herbs. Finishes with the citrus as well as fresh chopped cilantro and mint. Medium + intensity of flavors.
  
  Medium body with medium + acid and nice medium lingering tannins, which are strongest on the tongue. Nice medium + length of finish too. Needs food, otherwise it's just too astringent. Great (if non-traditional) pairing with goulasch soup. (Gulyas). Structurally, this can age even longer, where it will also gain some cool tertiary notes. I wonder if bottle age will increase the intensity of aromas as well.

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  1/26/2024 - Mleh Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Needed about 40mins of air to open up. Nose was almost like an aged Bordeaux. Cigar box, dark fruit with subtle oak and vanilla. Palate was medium+ acidity, surprisingly high tannin for the age, but luscious dark fruit and earth. Was excellent with pasta and a rich meat sauce. These and amazing value.

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  10/14/2023 - MikePass44 Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Starting to show some rust color on the rim, being 11 years old at time of release. The nose immediately shows the concentrated fruit from the partial appassimento, and the alcohol. Fig jam, nutmeg, sandalwood, hint of black pepper. Still showing lots of tannic strength, but there's a great depth and nuance of flavor still. On the palate black cherry and maybe some blackberry. Earthy minerality, five spice, leather, tobacco. Tannins suggest a more youthful vintage than it is. Will be really fun to try with more age.

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  7/27/2023 - jkvedar Likes this wine: 87 Points

  Really interesting . 11 years old Sicilian red. On the nose, it reminds me of mature Bordeaux with leather and tobacco notes . On the palate I would have guessed old Chateauneuf du Pape. Very Grenache-like. High alcohol , medium to low tannins, medium finish.
  
  I kept this corked in the cellar for a couple of days and could not get beyond the high alcohol.

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  6/10/2023 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 93 Points

  An iconoclastic wine that is not bottled as an Etna Rosso. 95% Nerello Mascalese & 5% Nerello Cappuccio from 70-80 yr. old vines. Surprisingly deep and dark for a Nerello. Med+ to pronounced aromas of ripe, dried black plum, ripe black cherries, mocha, tobacco, leather, rose petal, smoke, perfume, vanilla, & earthy minerality. Surprisingly black-fruit-driven for a Nerello. Aged for several years in large Slavonian oak casks. Dry, med+ acid, med to med+ tannins, high alcohol (16% but seems less). Surprisingly big and full bodied for a Nerello, w/ med+ intensity & length. Surprisingly youthful for an 11+ yr old wine. Drinking well now and for the next several years.

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