WTN: Nero D'Avola - rough character

Spadina Una Rosa Signature Sicilia 2002 13.5% abv

Garnet red with ruby edge. Interesting nose of prunes, blackberries, and black raspberries. Very dry wine with powerful tannins that are a bit rough on the midpalate. Long tannic finish that starts out bitter but fades nicely to a nice acidic dark fruit end. Definitely not a sipper. Needs food to tame and complement its tannins.

I think this wine made the wine spectator top 100 of 2005. But it's a bit rough for my taste.

Tom, I tried a few NdA at a recent Empson tasting and they were all big burly tannic wines. Like you, have tasted a few and there are some nice ones out there. Not the spoofulated A-Mano though but many like it! Think we did a tasting on Netscape last winter??

Nero d'Avola is one that I am afraid I just don't get. Our local merchang bought out a bunch of NdA - Genofranco 2004 - and offered it on deep discount, so deep that almost everybody on his alert list bought some. Including me. I found nothing of interest, in contrast to most of my friends, some of whom really liked it. It wasn't offensive - just pretty big and uninteresting. I've had two other bottles I know of, one with a red label and one with a white label but I don't remember the names of either. Neither made a lasting impression, obviously.
If there is a good one out there, or at least a typical one out there, I'd love to make one more visit just to see if it goes on my "don't waste any more time on these" list.

Hi O. W.

I have had one NdA that I liked. It wasn't nearly as tannic and it was less expensive than this one. It was also mixed with some cab. It was a lot nicer and smoother than this one, but still a big wine. I don't recall its name off the top of my head, but I think it was a popular one.

Tom, Anastashia??

Hi Tom,
Is the Spadina Una Rosa Signature wine of Sicily produced by Antonini? My father and I enjoy a Nero d’Avola from Sicily called Spadina produced by Antonini of Tuscan fame. (A spadina was a weapon of honor in ancient Italy, but when the opponent was a lady, duelists found the rose a more appropriate weapon to reach the heart).
This wine has a deep garnet color, rich and full cherry, berry and plum flavor. Shows soft tannins and oak influence, good acidity and balance. Fruit has supply sweetness and a distinct character, with a spicy, lasting finish.






Salute

Tom, Anastashia??

Hi Bob,

Actually I think it might have been Anastasia. It was a really nice wine that was good with food, definitely new worldish though with good fruit. I am trying to remember and I think you might have commented that you tasted it but did not like it as much as I did. Does that sound like something you posted? Or was it someone else or some other Nero D'Avola?

Hi Tom,
Is the Spadina Una Rosa Signature wine of Sicily produced by Antonini?
Salute

No, I don't think it is made by Antonini. It says that it produced and bottled by S. I. V. S. p. A in Marsala Italy.

Robin wrote about this Spadina Nero d’Avola wine back in March of 2006

http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvis ... 60310.html

Salute