2015 Tasca d'Almerita 'Rosso del Conte' Contea di Sclafani

• 94+ Point Sicilian Blend
• From Best Selections of Old-Vines
• Small Production, High-Quality
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About the Wine

In the late 1960s, founder Count Giuseppe Tasca decided to create a special reserve of Regaleali Rosso. He wanted to make a truly Sicilian wine that could age like the great international red blends such as Bordeaux and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. After selecting the fruit from the best parcels and experimenting with careful oak treatment (something unheard of in Sicily at that time), Rosso del Conte was born. Today, Rosso del Conte still stands as a revered icon among Sicilian reds and continues to be made from the very best selections of the old-vine estate vineyards.

For eight generations, the Tasca d’Almerita family has been devoted to Sicily, its land, its unique nature, and its surprising and inimitable resources. Their story began in 1830 with the purchase of Tenuta Regaleali, a green oasis spanning nearly 550 hectares in the center of the island where 8 generations have fostered the past, present, and future of Sicilian winemaking. Regaleali is an unpredictable and breathtaking place, even for the experienced traveler. Luscious hills roll endlessly in several shades of green, with vineyards unlike any other in the world. “Nordic” features in the deep south, like the perceptible diurnal temperature excursions between day and night, the mountainous context, and the quality of the light render this place a winemaking paradise. A mosaic of exposures, mixed soils, and elevations create a proper outdoor viticulture laboratory where 25 red and white varietals are planted across 382 hectares of vines.

Aging: 18 months in French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes: 54% Nero d'Avola, 26% Perricone, 20% other local grapes. Deep ruby-red in color, this wine offers enticing aromas of Marasca cherries and herbs with undertones of vanilla and tobacco. On the palate, silky tannins and a rich body culminate in a long, flavorful finish.

Reviews

This is an iconic Sicilian red that celebrates its 40th anniversary with this handsomely styled bottle. The 2015 Sicilia Contea di Sclafani Rosso del Conte Tenuta Regaleali definitely delivers the goods, but it also delivers a few surprises along the way. There's a lot going on in terms of aromas with softly ripened fruit that is plush and succulent. With a good amount of clarity I might add, you also get varietally true aromas of olive, anise and toasted Bronte pistachio. At the tail end, there is a meaty or savory tone of smoked pancetta or cured ham. The wine shows beautiful intensity and depth with textural richness and integrated tannins. The blend is 52% Nero d'Avola and 48% Perricone, aged in French oak for 18 months with an additional 12 months in bottle. Some 35,000 bottles were released. ~94+ Wine Advocate

Ripe berry and hints of raisins and fresh leather on the nose. Full body, layered and delicious. Soft and easy. Nero d'Avola. Drink now. ~92 James Suckling

Creamy tannins enfold the focused flavors of crushed raspberry and dried fig in this harmonious, medium- to full-bodied red, with an underlying note of smoky mineral. Aromatic accents of licorice snap, violet, and herb show on the chewy finish. Nero d'Avola with Syrah. Drink now through 2027. 1,042 cases made, 500 cases imported. ~91 Wine Spectator

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