Epicuro Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT – Cherry Cough Syrup + Wet Grass + Lemonheads

$5.99 at Trader Joe’s.

From the bottle:

Made only from Nero d’Avola grapes, this is a great wine with a beautiful rich, bright garnet colour and full bouquet redolent of berries, cherries and spices. The flavour is clear-cut, full-bodied and elegant. Perfect with grilled red meats and game. Serve at 18°C. 13% Alcohol

This is the third of the Epicuro wines sold at Trader Joe’s. The Aglianico just eeked out a buy rating based on it’s ability to pair with a pizza. The Salice Salentino Riserva also scored a low buy rating. Neither of these were great wines by any means, but solid for the low price. Unfortunately, I liked the 2008 Epicuro Nero d’Avola the least of the three.

Like the other two Epicuro wines, the 2008 Epicuro Nero d’Avola also benefits from being run through the Vinturi before drinking. This wine has a pretty distinctive taste. I get cough syrup cherry and wet grass on the nose. The cough syrup cherry carries over to the very juicy palate where is a bit of smokiness coming through as well. The finish is rather sour and is reminiscent of the Lemonhead candy the kids just got in their Easter basket. (Speaking of Lemonheads, did you know they produce 1.9 million of those things every day!) Amazingly, this somehow all adds up to a somewhat drinkable wine, but there’s really nothing special here. You can do better at this price point and if looking specifically for a Nero d’Avola, I would give the 2008 Archeo a try and buy a box of Lemonheads with the dollar you just saved.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

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