Duca di Salaparuta, Duca Enrico, Sicilia, Sicily, 2018

Duca Enrico was Sicily's first 100% Nero d'Avola to be bottled, back in the 1980s. The alberello vines produce low yields naturally - around one bottle per vine - and the fruit is vinified in stainless steel then matured for 18 months in new and second-use barriques. Chocolatey and subtly jammy aromas combine with fragrant, floral top notes and earthy depth. Bold and spicy, it has a dusty, earthy character. Chocolate and black tea mingle with savoury raspberry, floral notes and a rich plum and blackberry undercurrent. Fine grained, sandy tannins give some grip while the finish is mulchy and complex, displaying some macerated cherry and raspberry coulis. Fresh and balanced despite its complexity and weight, this is a great food wine.