TN: A Sicilian wine. 2009 Case Ibidini Nero d'Avola

So first there was the thread about Asimov’s Sicilian wine article. Then a couple of threads about buying and drinking wine wherein I said I don’t buy cellarworthy wines much anymore but do but inexpensive house wines for casual drinking. So… this note.

This was from the local supermarket. Case Ibidini is the second label of Valle della Acate. The wines, apparently, are made to be drunk casually with friends etc. and this fits the bill.

Medium red color with some blueish purple hints. Fairly transparent both in appearance and on the palate, the nose has fresh tart berry flavors, a hint of spice and perhaps a floral note. In the mouth, the wine is as one would expect - a medium bodied but transparent wine with nice red fruit, a hint of tannins and balancing acid. It’s refreshing, tasty and balanced. There’s no oak and the wine isn’t hot in the least ( it’s 12.5% according to the label). The spicy notes and the hint of flowers elevate this a bit, but what it really is is a good, honest Nero d’Avola that matched perfectly with a pork chop that was seasoned, lightly breaded, seared and finshed in the oven and some scratch mac and cheese.

Excellent! Valle della Acate rocks, but I’ve never had their second label and I used to distribute the brand in Colorado. Love the house style, might just have to hunt me down sum of this second label!

Quick note… I was busy and didn’t get back to the remnants of the bottle until last night. It was in the original bottle at cellar temp and… it was very similar to night 1 though the subtle aromatics were less/not present. The basic character of the wine, a bright red fruit with refreshing acidity and good transparency was still present and it was in no way tired from being left open for some time. Definite rebuy for me.