Recommendation: An easily recommended wine that’s a GOOD value.
Winery/Producer: Arianna Occhipinti; Vittoria, Italy.
Grape Variety: Blend of: 70% Frappato and 30% Nero d’Avola.
Geographic Region, Appellation: Sicily, Italy.
Vintage: 2015
Price: $23.95
Purchased From: Woodland Hills Wine Company; Woodland Hills, California.
Paired With: Roast fillet mignon, baked potato, mushrooms sauteed in garlic, butter and spices, onion pie, broccoli and mixed garden salad with oil and lemon dressing.
Tasting:
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He said: Opened 30-minutes before drinking. Opaque, inky dark garnet color with a light purple/red rim. Terrific damp earth, barnyard and ripe cherry and raspberry aromas. Velvety mouth-feel and a taste just like it smells…lots of ripe cherry and raspberry that continues on through a dry finish with abundant fresh acidity and soft almost sweet tasting tannins. WOW, FANTASTIC Frappato/Nero d’Alba blend with lots going on in the background. It’s a powerful and intense fruity wine where everything has smooth edges from start to finish. Excellent with the beef and equally good sipping without food. An easily recommended wine that’s a GOOD value.
She said: Abundant fruity aroma and flavor accompanied by a medium body with a smooth, dry mouth-feel that had zesty acidity. The tannins were prominent yet not grippy and last into the flavor filled finish. The wine was excellent with the meat and mushrooms and delicious sipping alone. It was a big bold wine that saturates the nose and palate and needs to be enjoyed for these characteristics. Although not in the bargain price range, you get a big bang for your buck with this wine and I would recommend it and buy it again.
1. Tami’ (Occhipinti) Frappato Terre Siciliane 2014 and Tami’ (Occhipinti) Grillo Terre Siciliane 2014,
2. Tami’ Nero D’Avola 2014 and
3. Occhipinti SP68 Blanco Terres Siciliane 2012.
Alcohol: 13%
UPC Code: NA
Imported by: Louis/Dressner Selections; New York, New York.
Photo from John Herbstritt at Bi-Rite.