I’m afraid I lost my notes, so this is from memory.
Chuck Cramer from the Wine people presented wines of Sicily,
from 2 producers, Miopasso and Santa Tresa. Chuck’s all the way from the USA,
and has been in the UK for the last 10 years or so – is a highly entertaining
speaker, and brought a very well priced selection of wine with him.
- Miopasso Grillo (W) 2012 Terre Siciliane - £8,99
- Miopasso Fiano (W) 2012 Terre Siciliane - £8.99
- Santa Tresa Rina Ianca Grillo Viognier(W) 2012 Terre Siciliane - £10.75 70% Grillo, 30% Viognier
- Santa Tresa Frappato 2011 IGT Sicilia - £10.75 – 100% Frappato
- Santa Tresa Cerusuolo di Vittoria 2011 £9.99-10.99 60% Nero D’Avola, 40% Frappato
- Santa Tresa Avulisi 2010, IGT Sicilia, £14.99 – 100% Nero D’Avola
Grillo is better known as the base grape for Marsala, and
makes a very nice straight white – highly recommended.
The Fiano – I’m afraid Fiano doesn’t do it for me – I just
find it bland, and perhaps a bit flabby.
The Grillo/Viognier blend is very good and does genuinely
put together the best of the viognier and the Grillo grapes.
The Frappato grape gives a quite light red wine, maybe a bit
like Gamay, and very drinkable. However, matched with the tannins and body of
the Nero d’Avola gives a truly superb wine, while I find the pure 100% Nero d’Avola
just too tannic.
So – my recommendations – the Rina Ianca white and the
Cerusuolo red – try them, you will not be disappointed.
Stockists – www.planetofthegrapes.co.uk
, www.lastdropwines.com , www.oxfordwine.co.uk , www.vintageroots.co.uk www.cambridgewine.com
