Tasca d'Almerita, pionieri di Sicilia - Tasca d'Almerita, Sicily's pioneers

A feature on Sicily's wine estate Tasca d'Almerita, with a comprehensive tasting of its products, including olive oil and grappa. Written by Slawka G. Scarso, first published in Bibenda - July-September 2005.

INCIPIT
According to the dictionary, a pioneer is a soldier sent on foot to prepare the road for the army. Given this, if we close our eyes and think of Sicily and its wine, slowly the outline of a foot soldier will loom, walking from the Sicilian inland and holding a flag depicting a lion.
This is what Tasca d’Almerita has represented, and still does, for the Sicilian oenology in the last few decades. A pioneer of Sicily.
After all, this historical wine estate has always been an ambassador of the qualitative innovation of Sicilian wine, introducing, before others, drastic pruning techniques to reduce production, appreciating the use of grape varieties such as Inzolia and Nero d’Avola and using barriques in a modern style. All this not without running the risk of initially obtaining, as underlined by some, wines that were slightly too solid.
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A sample from the tasting notes
Contea di Sclafani Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 92/100
Intense ruby, it conquers immediately with its colour. Liquorish and mulberry scents, followed by notes of humus, poppy seeds and eucalyptus. Pleasurable to the palate, with subtle though still lively tannins and a roundness to flawlessly balance the whole, inviting to yet another taste. It rests for one year in small barrels. Taste it with game. Just perfect.