Feudo Montoni 'Vrucara' Nero d'Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily, Italy 2020

“Vrucara” Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT 2020 is a benchmark expression of Sicily’s most important native red grape, sourced from high-altitude, organically farmed old vines in the hills of Agrigento. Crafted by Fabio Sireci, this single-vineyard wine shows remarkable depth and purity, with layers of ripe red cherry, plum, and wild berry fruit supported by balsamic herbs, rose petals, spice, and a distinctive earthy, almost Mediterranean scrub character. The palate is refined yet powerful, with silky but structured tannins, bright acidity, and a long, savory finish marked by licorice, mineral tension, and subtle spice. Aged extensively in cement, Vrucara emphasizes finesse and site expression over extraction, resulting in a wine of elegance, complexity, and aging potential. Highly regarded by critics, it represents one of the most compelling and authentic interpretations of Nero d’Avola on the market today. "The organic Feudo Montoni 2020 Sicilia Nero d'Avola Vrucara is a wine that vintner Fabio Sireci has been working to improve for many years. It remains one of the best expressions of the grape on the market today. Since the 2017 vintage, it has included 15% stems. The "progetto raspi" is something that was passed down from Fabio's father, Elio. The trick is to avoid the bitterness of the stems, something Fabio does by sun-drying the fruit on cane mats as if it were an appassimento. The wine ages in cement for 40 months. The fruit comes from a 2.2-hectare site with clay and sand at 500 meters in elevation. This vintage shows a very ripe fruit profile with blackberry, baked plum and grilled herb. Those robust flavors fold into a medium-plus mouthfeel that is indeed soft and plush, with no astringency. Soft mineral tones give a sense of brightness to the finish." Wine Advocate 93