2011 Nero d’Avola Cembali

An interesting estate comprises two large vineyard holdings and wineries located in very different microclimates. The Pianetto estate is situated near S. Cristina Gela, not far from Palermo, where vines are planted at roughly 650 meters above sea level and temperatures can be quite cool (snow is common here in winter), while the Baroni estate is located in Sicily’s southeast corner, near Noto, where the climate is hot and dry and day-night temperature variation is minimal. This is one of the few estates in Sicily where I think making wine from Viognier might not be a lost cause, although I think they are more successful with red grapes in general--with Syrah and Nero d’Avola more so than with Merlot and Petit Verdot.