Italian Wine Club
January Italian Club Selection
This month,we're focusing on wines from Sicily, home of full bodied yet crisp whites and deep, brooding reds. This month,we're focusing on wines from Sicily, home of full bodied yet crisp whites and deep, brooding reds. Both wines this month are from Valle dell'Acate, a small family run winery in the Cerasuolo zone.
The 2006 Insolia ($18.50), is a lovely, dry white wine. Insolia or Inzolia is a varietal confined mainly to Sicily, although it is also found in Tuscany under the synonym Ansonica. When combined with Grillo and Catarratto it is used to make both the sweet and dry versions of Marsala. Increasingly found as a table wine that can be perfumed and well-built with lots of structure and viscosity.Notes of almonds, citrus fruits and fresh herbs are common, a beautiful deep golden/green color.
The 2004 Il Moro Nero d'Avola ($25.50), is a deep, brooding red wine, with aromas of crushed pepper, anise, earth and red meat. Intense flavors, robust baked fruits, earthiness and leather. This is a big, rustic wine, that will appeal to fans of zinfandel and petite sirah.
The 2006 Insolia ($18.50), is a lovely, dry white wine. Insolia or Inzolia is a varietal confined mainly to Sicily, although it is also found in Tuscany under the synonym Ansonica. When combined with Grillo and Catarratto it is used to make both the sweet and dry versions of Marsala. Increasingly found as a table wine that can be perfumed and well-built with lots of structure and viscosity.Notes of almonds, citrus fruits and fresh herbs are common, a beautiful deep golden/green color.
The 2004 Il Moro Nero d'Avola ($25.50), is a deep, brooding red wine, with aromas of crushed pepper, anise, earth and red meat. Intense flavors, robust baked fruits, earthiness and leather. This is a big, rustic wine, that will appeal to fans of zinfandel and petite sirah.