Caruso & Minini - Nebacco Nero d'Avola 2023
Caruso & Minini embodies one of the modern signatures of western Sicily, located in Marsala, in the province of Trapani. The estate was born from the meeting between the winemaking tradition of the Caruso family and the commercial experience of the Minini family, with the ambition to offer a contemporary interpretation of the great Sicilian grape varieties. Its vineyards extend into the hinterland, notably around Salemi, on hills bathed by Mediterranean light and refreshed by marine influences. In this dry, bright, and windy landscape, Nero d’Avola finds a sunny, colorful, and generous expression while maintaining a beautiful aromatic clarity. Nebacco Nero d’Avola 2023 belongs to this vein of Sicilian wines that are both accessible, refined, and expressive. The cuvée highlights a broad, fruity, and spicy red profile, designed to combine immediate pleasure and balance. It perfectly illustrates the style of Caruso & Minini, between local identity, technical precision, and tasting pleasure.
The Nebacco 2023 cuvée is made from Nero d’Avola, the emblematic grape variety of Sicily and a true pillar of the island’s reds. The grapes come from a hillside terroir located in the Salemi area, on limestone and clay soils that favor ripeness, color, and structure. The harvest is done by hand in September to preserve the integrity of the fruit and allow careful selection of the grapes. After destemming, maceration and fermentation take place in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature for 15 to 20 days. Malolactic fermentation is also conducted in stainless steel, which softens the texture while preserving the fruit’s freshness. The aging then combines 30% of the wine in 225-liter barrels for 4 months and 70% in stainless steel tanks for 8 months. This approach brings a touch of relief and roundness without masking the juicy, Mediterranean, and spicy character of Nero d’Avola.
In the glass, Caruso & Minini Nebacco Nero d’Avola 2023 reveals an intense ruby red color, bright and engaging. The nose opens with aromas of ripe cherry, red and black fruits, with nuances of orange peel, sweet spices, and a slight oriental touch. The palate is supple, enveloping, and harmonious, supported by pleasant tannins that provide structure without rigidity. The fruit remains at the center of the wine, in a generous but balanced register, with a persistent finish marked by spices and a typically Sicilian warm sensation. This red is ideally enjoyed around 16 to 18°C in a Bordeaux-type glass, after a short aeration. It will pair very well with red meats, game, artisanal charcuterie, aged cheeses, or spicy Mediterranean cuisine. Its accessible and flavorful style makes it a great gateway to Sicilian Nero d’Avola, with enough structure to hold the table.
Grape variety: 100% Nero d’Avola
