#WW Il Moro D.O.C Sicilia Nero d’Avola

We do enjoy (most of the time) when wine shows up in the mailbox for us. Sometimes its accompanied by the literature we ask for on our 'Submitting Samples' page instructions and sometimes its not. This was a wine that showed up a little while ago without any associated information.

We searched it out and have included the website info and description as well as our own observations (in blue).

Giuseppe Jacono founded the cantina at the end of the 19th century. The Jacono family has been active in vine growing and winemaking ever since Vittoria was Sicily’s epicenter for exporting wine to France. Since then, this familial vocation has been safeguarded and handed down over generations, with the shared desire to establish a name for the family’s wines on an international level.

Valle dell’Acate has continued this tradition, specializing in the cultivation of the most prized and productive autochthonous vines, creating superior wines, including the crown jewel of Sicilian winemaking: the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG.

Gaetana Jacono

 Valle dell’Acate is one of the most well-known and active vineyards in southeastern Sicily. The company is run by Gaetana Jacono, part of the family’s sixth generation of winemakers. The vineyards extend over 100 hectares, most of which have been replanted from 2001 to the present day with local and international vines.

Valle dell’Acate (literally “Acate Valley”) is located in the historic Bidini domain, amid the winding hills of Valle del Dirillo.


BLACK SOIL: this red wine is Valle dell’Acate’s crown jewel, and has earned Italy’s vaunted DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) status. Black land These vineyards are located roughly 120 meters above sea level, where the earth is extremely dark, almost black in color. Soil has a medium density tending towards compact, with a fair proportion of small, dark stones. These vines are roughly 20 years old, and produce a Nero d’Avola wine called Il Moro, which is well- structured and marked by strong hints of small red fruits like blackberries, raspberries and black cherries, as well as dark chocolate tannins that are at once powerful and enjoyable.

Our observations are similar but...

Il Moro D.O.C Sicilia Nero d’Avola

Produced in: C. da Bidini – Acate (RG) – eastern Sicily
Appellation: IGT Sicilia Rosso, from 2012 Il Moro D.O.C. Sicilia Nero d’Avola
Grape Variety: 100% Nero d’Avola
Methods of growth: Espaliers and cord, 5.000 plants/hectare
Production per hectare: 5800 kg
Harvest period: The second half of September
Aging process: Wood and steel vats and bottle-aged for at least 9-12 months
Alcohol level: 13.5%
Color: Intense ruby red
Dark deep color of ruby red and an interesting brick at the edge.            
Aroma: Cherry and raspberry fruity and a spicy background, nicely balanced.
So yes we quaff some cherry, but also some darker fruit like plum. This is a nice aromatic wine.
Flavor: Full, warm and elegant, very persistent, with typical austere, but polite, tannins.
A medium body wine that has a nice feel on the palate with good balance and fine but grippy tannins that give a medium long finish. 
Best paired with: Meat dishes, Nebrodi suckling pig, game meats and roasts, grilled meats and filets. Highly recommended with aged D.O.P. ragusano cheese.
Went beautifully with home made lasagna.
Serve at: 16°-18º C
                 60º - 64º F (not room temperature)

Overall really enjoyed this wine and rated it a 7 on our scale. Since we did not get any actual info the price point is a bit of a guess but we believe it gets ****. 

Happy Wine Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout