2016 Nero d'Avola Vrucara

The 2016 Vrucara is a dark and towering Nero d'Avola with a beguiling nose of cooling mint and smoke that gives way to crushed cherries laced with licorice and hints of shaved cedar. Its velvety textures soothe, carried across a medium-bodied framework of acid and minerals, as juicy black fruits and hints of wild herbs drench the palate. A coating of fine tannins lingers, framing the experience nicely without slowing its momentum, as nuances of plum sauce and balsamic spices slowly fade. The Vrucara is enjoyable already, but can easily excel through medium-term cellaring, and will likely even improve over that time.