Regaleali Nero d'Avola 2014
One of my favorite trends in the wine world is seeing grapes that formerly were regarded as best suited for blending evolve into well-made varietals (in which the wine must be 75 percent one grape). Until this century, Nero d'Avola was just such a grape, and one of the wineries that changed all that was Regaleali. The Regaleali Nero d'Avola 2014 ($16) tastes like Sicily in a glass: bright but brooding, laden with sun-splashed ripeness. All manner of red fruits — cherries, raspberries, et al. — vie for the palate's attention all the way through the silky finish. This robust but refined red is an ideal match for traditional Italian food: spaghetti and meatballs, Italian sausage (or any sausage), eggplant or chicken Parmigiana.
Available at Top Ten St. Louis Park, Cotroneo's, Solo Vino, South Lyndale, Liberty Village, Kowalski's and others.
Bill Ward
