Cusumano Noà 2008, IGT Sicilia, Italy

This wine is from a family owned estate and a blend of 40% Nero d’Avola, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot with maturation in barriques for 12 months and alcohol comes in at 14.5%.

Shockingly dark color (charred barrels?), this wine opened up with aromas of black plums, blackberry jam, dried figs, damp earth, liquorice and spices. On the mouthfeel, full-bodied, bold flavours, creamy texture, balanced acidity and sweet grainy tannins. Very good weight and length on the finish with flavours of smoky black fruit, liquorice, spices with and underlying earthiness and those same grainy tannins lingering. Quite an interesting, robust and flavourful wine here, a candidate for short term ageing, 1-2 years. Pair with BBQ red meat, pasta, tomatoes and sausage, strong cheese or pizza after a 1 hour decant. This is a very enjoyable, great value and a made to please blend, strongly recommended, score 90 points.

Purchased April 13, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (109512) at $18.95

Marchesi Mazzei Zisola Nero D’Avola 2009, Igt Sicily, Italy

Zisola is an estate owned by the Mazzei family of Tuscany, made with Nero D’Avola from head-pruned bush vines with maturation in small French oak barrels for 10 months and alcohol coming in at 13.5%.

This wine opened up with aromas of red fruit, rhubarb, orange zest, beets, violets and herbal notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, juicy with flavours of sweet berry fruit, spices with an underlying minerality, balanced acidity and well integrated tannins. This wine’s finish is short but intense and tangy with herbal notes lingering. This wine is corrected technically, but the flavours are slightly at odds for me, and at $25.95 does not represent a good value. Score 88 points.

Purchased January 19, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (303925) at $25.95