Cusumano (Italy) Nero d’Avola 2003
From Sicily, currently one of the hot-beds of interesting and often inexpensive wines, comes this dark, explosively fruity, unoaked red. Nero d’Avola is one of Sicily’s real strong points, and an indigenous grape almost unknown outside the shores of the island. This has a very ripe, fragrant, sweet-fruited nose with juicy black cherries and little violet highlights suggesting real ripeness and concentration. On the palate that impression of tight, svelte, concentrated blueberry and cherry fruit persists. It is a very vibrant and crisp style, with a punchy, vivid fruit personality, all bolstered by racy tannins and acidity and elegant balance. £4.99 Oddbins
