Duca di Castelmonte, Marsala DOC, Fine Sweet I.P. nv This is caramel and Christmas pudding in a warm glass. Bottled in Marsala 17% $10.99 at Traverso’s

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Baglio di Pinaetto, Sicilia IGT, Cembali, Nero d’Avola 2004 Unfortunately this bottle was corked. The grapes were sourced from the Noto region of Sicilia. 14% $36 at Traverso’s Baglio di Pianetto
Cusumano, Sicilia IGT Sagana 2005 There’s plenty of raisined fruit to smell. The mouth is vibrantly acidic, with tar, earth, tannin and again the raisins [...]

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Marsala is known the world over but like Madeira it often gets categorized as a mere cooking wine. This is unfortunate as the flavors can delight and since the wine is out of fashion, it’s price point is attractive.
Florio
Marsala DOC Fine Ambra Secco
Marsala DOC Fine Ambra Dolce
The former makes a nice aperitif in that [...]

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Cantine Rallo Moscato di Pantelleria DOC 2003
This is the second bottle of this vintage tasted this year.  The Muscat comes through (known as Zibibbo in this part of the world).  During the last tasting we placed it side by side with a Passito from Donnafugata and they made a nice contrast.  Both were delicious. The [...]

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Planeta Sicilia IGT La Segreta Rosso 2006
Black fruits, mintiness and a moderate amount of extract and some light structure make this an easy drink. 50% Nero d’Avola, 25% Merlot, 20% Syrah and 5% Cab Franc grown at 100-250 metres, 9 tonnes per hectare, vertical trellis, all stainless, estate bot in Menfi (AG) 13% $15 at [...]

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This flight shows two budget Island reds with different personalitites. Nero d’Avola also goes by the moniker Calabrese.
Feudo Arancio Sicilia IGT Nero d’Avola 2005
This wine carries on value shown in the 2003. One of the class described the smell as ‘chocolate covered cherries’. The wine is a simple light-bodied dry quaffer. [...]

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Southern Italian white table wines have improved by leaps and bounds over the last decade. As in other hot winegrowing regions, temperature control in the cellar is making the difference between wines that smell like nuts and varnish versus fresh fruit and other primary grape aromas.
Argiolas Vermentino di Sardegna DOC Costamolino 2006
The smells of [...]

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