Colosi Rosso - Silcilian Red Wine

Here is installment three of my humble quest to find 6 or 7 very good inexpensive wines for the Summer of 2008 season.

Today we go to Sicily to revisit a fine red, Colosi Rosso.

This wine is consistently excellent, made of 100% Nero D' Avola, a grape also known as Calabrese, a very promient red grape in Sicily. Since this grape is vinified into dark, thick, flavorful reds that remind me of Australian Shiraz I thought it was an appropriate wine to include in this tasting group.

We had it tonight with some Lloyd's baby back ribs. The wine stood up well to the pungent BBQ sauce.

I tasted it against the Crios Syrah Bonarda blend by Susan Balbo and I agree Nero D' Avola and Syrah/Shriraz are very similar.

They say that "over the last 25 years or so, the island of Sicily has tranformed itself from an overgrown grape juice factory into a hotbed for cutting edge, superripe, fine wines. Its long, arid, sweltering summers allow for extreme ripening of grapes, thus producing ripe, dense, fruit-packed wines. In the last decade some remarkable (and expensive) Sicilian wines have stunned the wine world, but the island is also becoming known as a place for great values."  Wine Weekly

This wine is good year after year. It pairs well with Southern Italian dishes and I think a great wine for burgers, steak, ribs and other delights that may end up on your grill.

Wine Advocate describes the wine like this,"The 2005 Sicilia Rosso is a delicious, full-bodied wine with a generous core of fruit, and an engaging, compelling personality. I was utterly seduced by its purity, sweetness and length, in fact I had a hard time putting my glass down. This wine is almost too good for the money. Anticipated maturity : 2008-2010." 2008, OK, good timing is everything.

The wine maker Piero Colosi is said to have a magic wand on his three different circles of production in and around the island of Sicily.

His winemaking stature is heralded by two simple wines dedicated to true original character of the region: Rosso of Nero d’Avola and Bianco of Inzolia and Catarratto.

At under 9 bucks a bottle or less if purchased with case discounts Colosi Rosso has a strong position in the 08 line up.

Other note Sicilian wine producers include, Firriato, Planeta and Regaleali who are all creating great Sicilian wines that you must try.

Comments

[Antonella Manoti Bendit]

Hello Peter,

the Colosi wines are delicious and affordable. thank you.
This is Antonella, Manoti Bendit (distributor with Transatlantic Wine & Spirits) I stopped by your winery few years ago; thank you for the tour of the winery and for the tasting of your wonderful wines.

I have a question about the Salina vineyard, would you kindly e-mail to me at: [email protected] and I will ask you the question? Thank you.

Best Regards,
Antonellas Manoti Bendit

[Peter]

Yes I have had the Chiaramonte. it is outstanding as are all the Firriato wines.

[Leigh Haydon]

Peter,
Great wine. Couldn't agree more. Have you had the Chiaramonte from Firriato? Little more expensive but definitely worth it. Hope all is well.