Tasting note
Colour - Deep, blackish scarlet hue.

Aroma - Warm ripe aromas of plum, damson and spice.

Taste - Soft, rounded tannins generously covered by dark, spicy plum character. Weighty and long.

	Type:Still Red Wine		Country:Italy		Appellation:Sicilia IGT
	Grape Type:Merlot		Drink Before:End of 2010		Body:Rich and Flavoursome
	Alcohol:15%		Bottle Size:75cl		Bottle Code:39611

Description
Where once Sicily was only known for sweet, sticky Marsala, today it is a hothouse of winemaking innovation producing some of the biggest and best bargains in all of Italy. As Hugh Johnson notes in his classic reference 'The World Atlas of Wine', "the advent of Sicilian table wine has been spectacular", while The Times declared "Sicily continues to shine as one of Italy's star performers."

Sicily is in fact the largest island in the Mediterranean and has huge potential within its vineyards: lots of hilly sites with poor soils to keep the vines well drained and stressed. This reduces yields and increases concentration of flavour. While vineyards at high altitudes keep the temperatures in check as do cooling coastal breezes, so the fruit retains its balance, aroma and acidity.

The Di Marias have a long history of winemaking but are definitely not hidebound by tradition. Since 2000 they have teamed up with the Biscardo family, who are based in the Veneto, but also have considerable experience in the south. In fact Maurizio Biscardo was so impressed by the quality of fruit in Sicily, he has built a brand-new, fully equipped boutique-style winery there and has installed the young, talented Mirella Lombardo as winemaker.

Merlot is no native of Sicily, but performs well on the higher slopes of the island where it can ripen more slowly.

Decanter - April 2008 2008, United Kingdom

International Wine Challenge 2007, United Kingdom