After dinner Friday headed over to my friend DP’s for meeting of my local tasting group, theme was red wines from Sicily. Besides the leftover Auxey I carried, there were a couple of starters as we gathered
2011 Hauner Salina Bianco Dry, minerally, peaches and apricot, saline, nice. B/B+
2007 Gulfi Carjcanti, Round, pit fruits and a little butterscotch, sweet fruit though a dry wine. B On to the main event, Sicilian reds blind (with some cheeses, meats, hummus, etc.
Blind Wine #1 - dark berries, light tannins, balancing acids, I make a call of Nero d’Avola (with Sicily I can probably only name 3 indigenous grapes, so not much of a guess), fairly nice wine- simple but friendly.. 2010 Centopassi Nero d’Avola B/B+
Blind Wine# 2- juicy, fruity, a hint of oak chip. I think maybe Merlot, but bringer thinks a blend primarily NdA. I’m not a fan, but the fruitbomb crowd likes, and a couple take pix of label for shopping. 2010 Regaleali Rosso B-/C+ Blind Wine# 3 - no guesses from me as it was mine. Crushed berries, flowers, herbs and gingery spice. Bright acids, lovely. 2010 Occhipinti SP68. A-
Blind Wine# 4- reminds me of a more structured version of #1, so again guess NdA. Full, fleshy but with balanced acids and a touch of tannin, really quite a bargain. 2010 Montoni Nero d’Avolo B+
Blind Wine# 5- black raspberries, floral, some grip, I guess Nerello Mascalese and then get Frappato on second guess. A bit short, but pleasant. 2011 Valle d’Acate Il Frappato B
Blind Wine# 6- structured,some oak, guess a more serious NdA. Some really loved, I liked but wish the oak was a little more restrained. 2007 Riofavara Sciave Nero d’Avola. B/B+
Blind Wine# 7 - fat plummy fruit, some coarse tannin, a bit of ashtray on finish. Others liked better. 2008 Cantine Russo “ Uve D'oro" Nero D'Avola C+
Blind Wine#8- fresh, berry fruit, a floral edge, a nice straightforward NdA. 2011 Calea Nero d'Avola. B+/B
There was also a non-blind blend offered around late, name was Notte di something, but I didn’t right down, and it was a very forgettable wine.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.