Offers aromas and flavors of dark and sour red cherries, spearmint, spice and oak. A velvety palate of lush, concentrated fruit balanced by a fine acidic underpinning and ripe, sweet tannins ends in a long finish.

Twenty- to 30-year-old vines are planted to south-facing vineyards 80 meters above sea level in volcanic soil with white sand and chalk deposits. The fruit is handpicked and the skins are gently broken. Fermentation is in stainless steel tanks and lined vats with regular punching down. A first blending of lots takes place when the wine is placed in barrique; a second at the first racking. The wines are then bottled with minimum intervention.

Food pairing

A superb match for full-flavored meats and game.

Producer

Just over a mile from the sea on the southern tip of the island of Sicily, Antonio Moretti, owner of Tenuta Sette Ponti and Poggio al Lupo in Tuscany, along with his daughter, Monika, established Feudo Maccari in 2000. This 250-acre estate was assembled from numerous owners and more than 50 separate plots on the southerly hillsides near the town of Noto. Vines existed in some parcels, and others were planted to the native Nero d’Avola and other red grape varieties selected based on the intimate knowledge of Italy’s renowned enologist Carlo Ferrini. Cultivation and winemaking follow the demands of the harsh climate and the pursuit of quality. Yields are restricted, and the fruit is treated gently and given the temperature-controlled fermentation that results in the finest-quality Sicilian wines.