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Planeta Sicilia Rosé 2016

Planeta Sicilia Rosé 2016

A straggler in my cellar, the 2016 Planeta Sicilia Rosé is a rose gold-hued blend of 50% Nero d’Avola and 50% Syrah. Light and lilting aromas of strawberry, tart pie cherry, and white peach gracefully twine spring flowers and fleeting mineral tones. It’s crisp, bright and perfect for these waning days of summer. The close […]

Feudo Arancio Cabernet Sauvignon Sicilia Stemmari 2013

Feudo Arancio Cabernet Sauvignon Sicilia Stemmari 2013

Aged in neutral French barriques, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is softly textured, fresh, and endowed with fine tannins that gather at the fore-palate. Laden with plums, blackberries, incense and Chinese five spice, this is an easy and approachable Cabernet Sauvignon, a perfect wine for a casual gathering. 13.5% ABV | Sample Feudo Arancio Stemmari 8.7 […]

Feudo Arancio Chardonnay Sicilia Stemmari 2013

Feudo Arancio Chardonnay Sicilia Stemmari 2013

Stemarri’s charming Chardonnay Sicilia 2013 presents billowy notes of golden delicious apples, pineapple, blanched almond and banana custard. While the aromatics lean toward tropical, it isn’t heavy. This is a lighter expression of the grape, with moderate acidity—15% of which is aged in French barrique. The toast is very discreet, one might not even notice […]

Feudo Arancio Moscato Terre Siciliane Stemmari 2015

Feudo Arancio Moscato Terre Siciliane Stemmari 2015

Continuing on with the Stemmari line, their 2015 Moscato Terre Siciliane sports a classic Moscato nose. Brimming over with honey, chamomile, white flowers, and mandarin orange. It’s not as heavy or as cloying as some d’Asti, the palate is soft, I’d like a touch more acidity to offset the residual sugar. here. Apricots and stone […]

Feudo Arancio Pinot Grigio Sicilia Stemmari 2014

Feudo Arancio Pinot Grigio Sicilia Stemmari 2014

Last week I had a lengthy and engaging interview with Stemmari winemaker, Lucio Matricardi. His wines, clean and fresh, nicely showcase Sicilian terroir. In the case of this Pinot Grigio, there is ample minerality on the back palate—a flourish of calcareous soils that meander towards a saline edge enlivened by zesty acidity. The fruit profile […]

Feudo Arancio Grillo Sicilia Stemmari 2015

Feudo Arancio Grillo Sicilia Stemmari 2015

Grillo is an amazing variety; it’s a white grape with a black dress. Why? It has this incredible ability to withstand the heat, it’s really yellow, almost amber-hued with lots of tannins,” says winemaker Lucio Matricardi. The grapes must be pressed very gently, and interestingly only the free run is used in crafting this demure […]

Feudo Arancio Nero d’Avola Sicilia Stemmari 2014

Feudo Arancio Nero d'Avola Sicilia Stemmari 2014

After being open for a couple of hours, the Feudo Arancio Nero D’Avola Sicilia Stemmari 2014 reveals soft, supple undercurrent of plums, prunes, cocoa powder, sweet tobacco and spearmint. The mint note is especially prominent. It’s easy going, round, with moderate acidity, I found myself reaching the bottom of my glass much faster than intended—for […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com