2004 Mandrarossa Nero d'Avola

Looking at the e-mail I've received over the years, I'd have to say the biggest category is comprised of questions about weird little $5 wines I tasted four years ago. As in, "Where can I find this wine in Delaware?" and "Can you arrange a tour of the winery and send me a case of this no-name Merlot from California that hasn't been made in half a decade?" I always respond politely, I never imagined that merely spelling the names of these wines correctly would make this site the top result in Google searches.

A close second, surprisingly enough, would be my 2008 review of a Nero d'Avola, a lesser-known Sicilian grape that is growing in popularity, though distribution is still small. At least twice a month I get an e-mail asking about this grape, and the traffic to that post is consistently heavy.

I decided it was time to write about another, so I picked up a bottle of the 2004 Mandrarossa Nero d'Avola.
from Sicily, $15, 13.5% abv. Deep, dark red, firm tannins, black cherry and a hint of cedar. It softens up with some time and air, but it's definitely a rich and full-bodied red wine. The low alcohol is a refreshing change from some similar powerful reds, allowing you to focus on the unique character of the grape. I served it with some New York-style floppy pizza full of various pork products. Lord have mercy, what a combination. I've had these wines with burgers, hanger steak, calzones... It pairs well with manly bar food for those times when you're not in the mood for a draught of dark stout.

There are a handful of other Sicilian wines trickling into the mainstream market these days, so if you're interested in trying something that's not too bizarre but is also a little unfamiliar, keep an eye out for the big island south of the boot.