In This Newsletter:
Sicily Sale
Collector’s Corner: Screaming Eagle
Island Vibes
Stock Up & Save On
Sicilian Wines
Sicily Sale
Collector’s Corner: Screaming Eagle
Island Vibes
Stock Up & Save On
Sicilian Wines
The Italian island of Sicily seems to have it all when it comes to wine: fun and fruity Frappato, serious, volcanic-influenced Nerellos from the slopes of Mount Etna, iconic dessert wines, and just about everything in between. With the recent, island-wide push for quality all across the price spectrum, there has never been a better time to explore these wines.
For lovers of volcanic-influenced wines, Sicily’s Mount Etna is a cherished place. Home to the Burgundy-esque varieties of Nerello Mascalese and Carricante, these are gorgeous, terroir-driven wines. The two grapes offer layers of spice and high acidity, partly due to being grown on the highest vineyards in all of Europe.
One of the finest producers on this volcano is Terre Nere, a domain that offers multiple single-vineyard wines. We have its proprietor, Marc De Grazia, to thank for bringing international attention to this stunning region. He founded Tenuta delle Terre Nere over twenty years ago after falling in love with the unique terroir created (and continually recreated) by the still-active volcano.
Calabretta is also one of our favorites, if tragically overlooked. Their commitment to chemical free farming, stewarding old vines, and meticulous winemaking is evident in every bottle of wine they craft from grapes grown along the slopes of Mount Etna. The wines have a rustic and savory feel that evokes a perfectly-cellared Pinot Noir. The high elevation, intense sunshine and marginal soils create incredible wines filled to the brim with flavor.
Those looking for serious options outside of Mount Etna should look to the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG. This appellation marries the dark fruit and earth of Nero d’Avola with the pretty, red-toned flavors of Frappato. The results show intriguing combinations of lifted acidity and fruit with a rich, savory backbone.
For lovers of volcanic-influenced wines, Sicily’s Mount Etna is a cherished place. Home to the Burgundy-esque varieties of Nerello Mascalese and Carricante, these are gorgeous, terroir-driven wines. The two grapes offer layers of spice and high acidity, partly due to being grown on the highest vineyards in all of Europe.
One of the finest producers on this volcano is Terre Nere, a domain that offers multiple single-vineyard wines. We have its proprietor, Marc De Grazia, to thank for bringing international attention to this stunning region. He founded Tenuta delle Terre Nere over twenty years ago after falling in love with the unique terroir created (and continually recreated) by the still-active volcano.
Calabretta is also one of our favorites, if tragically overlooked. Their commitment to chemical free farming, stewarding old vines, and meticulous winemaking is evident in every bottle of wine they craft from grapes grown along the slopes of Mount Etna. The wines have a rustic and savory feel that evokes a perfectly-cellared Pinot Noir. The high elevation, intense sunshine and marginal soils create incredible wines filled to the brim with flavor.
Those looking for serious options outside of Mount Etna should look to the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG. This appellation marries the dark fruit and earth of Nero d’Avola with the pretty, red-toned flavors of Frappato. The results show intriguing combinations of lifted acidity and fruit with a rich, savory backbone.
5% off any 3-7 in-stock bottles of Sicilian wine
10% off any 8+ or more in-stock bottles of Sicilian wine
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Tuesday, April 15th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 8+ or more in-stock bottles of Sicilian wine
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Tuesday, April 15th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer twenty-one in-stock Sicilian options on sale now, including:
Gurrieri Grillo Sicilia 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $19.50, that’s $18.53 at 5% off and $17.55 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Estate-grown near Mazzarrone, west of Chiaramonte Gulfi, at around 180 meters/600 feet in altitude. Soil is sandy clay; the grapes are picked around mid-September, pressed immediately and fermented at controlled temperature in stainless steel using indigenous yeasts. After about 9 months in tank the wine is bottled.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24
The next best price is $24
Caruso & Minini ‘Frappo’ Rose Terre Siciliane IGT 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $19, that’s $18.05 at 5% off and $17.10 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 90 points “The 2023 Rosé Frappo is delicate and coy in the glass, wafting up with hints of dried strawberry, sweet spice and sage. It sweeps across the palate with lifted textures as brisk acidity motivates its ripe pit fruits. A tinge of chamomile forms toward the close. The 2023 finishes unexpectedly long, with a gentle tension and sour citrus tones that slowly taper off. The Frappo really sneaks up on the taster, coming in like a lamb and out like a lion. (Drink between 2024-2026).”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Benanti Serra della Contessa ‘Particella No. 587’ Etna Rosso Riserva 2016 1.5L Displayed Price: $249,that’s $236.55 at 5% off and $224.10 at 10% off, 5 magnums in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 95 points “The 2016 Etna Rosso Serra della Contessa Particella No. 587 Riserva is dark and savory in the glass, grumbling up with notes of crushed rocks and ash that evolve further to reveal musky black currants, hints of licorice and dried violets. This is velvety-smooth, yet not weighty in feel. Instead, the 2016 seems to glide effortlessly across the palate, yet what it leaves behind is a saturation of primary fruit and mineral tones, as well as silky tannins that penetrate deeply. The Serra della Contessa finishes structured yet long and unexpectedly fresh, with balsam herbs and a touch of salted licorice that slowly fades. This Etna Rosso is a powerhouse, but it is in need of cellaring to reveal all of its charms.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Calabretta Nerello Cappuccio Terre Siciliane IGT 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $33, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 89 points “The 2019 Nerello Cappuccio is incredibly pretty, with a bouquet of musky cherry and raspberry complemented by stemmed roses and flowery undergrowth. This is silky yet lifted, leaning more toward the savory spectrum on the palate, as woodland berries mingle with saline-minerals under an air of inner florals. It’s a bit shorter than anticipated yet fresh, leaving nuances of waxy red fruits.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Azienda Agricola Cos Frappato Terre Siciliane IGT 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $34.50, that’s $32.78 at 5% off and $31.05 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “The nose is earthy and umami, with aromas of damp soil, mushrooms and graphite, while undertones of flowers and plums provide a hint of sweetness. Juicy figs, plums and mixed berries flood the palate, dusted with a sophisticated pinch of salt and pepper and lifted by acid that positively shines above flexible tannins.”
Girolamo Russo ‘San Lorenzo’ Etna Rosso 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $69.50, that’s $66.03 at 5% off and $62.55 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96+ points “The Girolamo Russo 2021 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo is a very exciting wine with so much energy and verve. It opens to lean-bodied concentration with a brilliant ruby shine. The wine shows a long array of wild fruit and tiny berry aromas backed by crushed white pepper and crushed stone. San Lorenzo is one of the most impressive interpretations of Etna. I highly recommend you try and cellar this wine.”
Gurrieri Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 91 points “The 2021 Cerasuolo di Vittoria is floral and dusty with a spicy blend of crushed raspberries and clove. This traverses both savory and sweet with a core of tart wild berries under an air of violet inner florals. It tapers off with admirable length and a staining of primary concentration, yet through it, all enlivened by a bump of residual acidity. Very nice.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Rosso Etna 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “From the moment the glass is tilted, the 2021 Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana Vineyard shines through as crushed stones, ash and sweet smoke give way to vivid black cherries and autumnal spice. The 2021 Etna Rosso is elegant, silky and deeply textural, with salty mineral tones and gobs of red and black fruits, all perfectly maintained by a core of vibrant acidity. This is complex yet full of energy and sultry depths, tapering off saline and structured with grippy tannins that frame a lasting resonance of licorice and plums. These old vines handled the drought of the vintage beautifully, showing only in the grit of its tannins. Otherwise, the 2021 is pure magic.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Prephylloxera ‘La Vigna di Don Peppino’ Calderara Sottana Rosso Etna 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $165, that’s $156.75 at 5% off and $148.50 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 96 points “Darkly alluring and youthfully background, the 2022 Prephylloxera ‘La Vigna di Don Peppino’ Calderara Sottana smolders up with a blend of with a spices, dusty violat and ash, giving way to dried black cherries, sage and cloves. This is velvety yet finssed, with a polished wave of ripe red and blue fruitthat flows across a juicy steam of acidity. Hints of sour citrus add contrast toward the close. It finishes remarkably fresh and energetic, still tanic but lively as crunchy tannis resonate and an air of lavender slowly fades. This an elegent and genuinely harmonious edition of this cuvee. Simply stunning.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Santo Spirito Rosso Etna 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Dark and purple fruits with sliced mushroom and crushed stone, as well as terra-cotta and red-earth character in both the nose and palate. Full and powerful with chewy tannins and muscle. Good depth of fruit. Citrus fruit, too. It turns very perfumed and intense. Chewy at the end. Needs time to soften. Try after 2027.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Feudo Montoni Passito Rosso Terre Siciliane IGT NV 375ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 21 half-bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 94 points “Bright deep red with an orange rim. The nose really opens with aeration to offer sweet red plum, dehydrated red cherry, cinnamon and raisins. Then similar flavors to the aromas lifted by juicy, harmonious acidity. Finishes very long and suave with saline nuances and repeating notes of raisins. Lovely, light on its feet dessert wine that seems less sweet than it really is thanks to its piercing acidity. One of the best sweet wines I have tasted so far this year. This is a blend of air-dried Nero d’Avola and Perricone aged in wood barrels for seven months and then twelve months in bottle prior to going on sale.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Shop our twenty-one Sicilian selections now!
Collector’s Corner:
Screaming Eagle
Let your senses take flight!
In Stock Now:
Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2022 750ml $2,199 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 points “While I wasn’t able to taste the 2021s, the 2022s from Screaming Eagle are undeniable successes. Tasted from multiple barrels, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon has medium to full-bodied, richness, beautiful purity of fruit and ripe, building tannins, as well as a good spine of acidity. This estate did an incredible selection, and it certainly shows in all the samples I was able to taste.”
Screaming Eagle ‘The Flight’, Napa Valley 2020 750ml $919 special, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “Aromas of blackberries, red and black currants. Green olives, too. Dark roses and perfume. Medium-bodied with super crunchy energy and brightness. Very fine tannins. Elegant and precise. So subtle and complex, it’s really something. A blend of 64% merlot and 36% cabernet sauvignon. Needs four to five years to open and come together.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2020 The Flight is classy and polished from the very first taste. Aromatic and understated, the 2020 offers a distinct feeling of classicism in its midweight structure. Crushed flowers, herbs and spice lead into a core of red/purplish fruit. The 2020 is a seriously impressive wine. Readers should expect a more lifted, restrained style than is the norm.”
Screaming Eagle ‘The Flight’, Napa Valley 2019 750ml $999 special, 3 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 99 points “Extremely floral and aromatic with violets and lavender throughout. Black olives, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, very fine-grained tannins that run the length of the wine. Goes on for minutes. A greenish undertone comes out at the end with some spearmint, green tea and green olive. About two-thirds merlot. Best after 2028, but already stunning.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 97 points “The 2019 The Flight, the estate’s Merlot-based wine, is dark, powerful and brooding in demeanor, almost shockingly so. The natural concentration of a year with low yields and small berries is very much in evidence. A rush of black cherry, plum, graphite, lavender and blue/purplish fruit builds as this virile, explosive wine shows off its arresting beauty. In a word: impressive.”
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
Westrey
5% off any 3-6 in-stock bottles of Westrey
10% off any 7+ or more in-stock bottles of Westrey
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Westrey sale ends Sunday, April 13th at 9 am Pacific.