A Sicilian sweet tart! We review the 2023 Planeta La Segreta Nero d’Avola from Sicily, Italy.
Nero d’Avola from Menfi, Sicily, Italy. The wine was made from organically grown grapes and aged in stainless steel.
Although Sicily produces lots of distinctive varieties, Nero d’Avola is probably at the top of the list – and for good reason! It is a wonderful pairing for all kinds of Italian and Sicilian foods and can made in a variety of styles. In our opinion it is very underappreciated here in the US. So let’s check this one out!
Sample submitted for review. The 2023 Planeta La Segreta Nero d’Avola has an SRP of $20 but can be found for as low as $16. It is imported by Palm Bay International.
From the winery:
2023 Planeta La Segreta Nero d’Avola
NOTES ON THE VINTAGE – MENFI 2023: The Menfi area reacted more than well to the year. The sea breeze, typical of the area, made the plant disease load perfectly controllable. The heat at the end of July sped up the harvest, which however started significantly late, normalizing the start dates and giving us a harvest as quick as a Viennese waltz! The smaller quantity (about 15%) at least improved the quality of the grapes. The reds, thanks to low production, are rich and concentrated with a particular mark for Nero d’Avola.
La Segreta bears the name of the woods surrounding our Ulmo vineyards. This wine has always been produced exclusively from the vineyards owned by the Planeta family for centuries, cultivated with passion and according to sustainable and organic agriculture criteria. Its first label was graphically related to a detail of an ancient 18th – century map of the area, to underline the family’s deep roots and presence on site since ancient times. Today it appears in a totally new and refined look. This time we took inspiration from the theme of Sicilian nature – both inside the bottle and out – drawing from the work of an eminent Sicilian pharmacist, Giuseppe Riggio, who, between the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th centuries, created a “erbario picto” with the help of a painter, depicting Sicilian flora with great precision and poetry. The new label offers a collection of herbs, flowers and roots, expression of the hidden and powerful beauty that is revealed only to those who know how to appreciate it. A richness of aromas and taste fully developed in these wines.
FIRST VINTAGE: 2016
VINIFICATION: de-leafing and pressing followed by 12 days on the skins at a temperature of 25⁰C with repeated daily mixing. After racking, the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and rests until the end of February.
MATURATION: in stainless steel.
BOTTLING: March 2025
TOTAL ACIDITY: 5,65 g/l
PH: 3,43
AGEING CAPACITY: to drink at once or leave for 2-3 years.
CORK: STELVIN®.Would You Like To Save This?
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TASTING NOTES: ruby red colour with violet reflections. Typical varietal aromas of ripe plum, cocoa, wild fruit and flawless spiciness. On the palate full and tannins without excess.
PAIRING: ideal companion for classic Sicilian cooking, thus with pasta and sauce dishes and main meat.
Bottled At Source by Azienda Agricole Planeta
12.5% Alcohol
The 2023 Planeta La Segreta Nero d’Avola opens with pleasing aromas of bright cherry, tart berry, plum and a touch of spice. It’s a good start that is very true to the variety.
The wine tastes similar to the nose with lots of tart, juicy, sweet tasting fruit. It was especially good with our spicy salami penne pomodoro made with the Bona Furtuna Sicilian tomato passata sauce we offered as an Inexpensive Gourmet Insider deal. The wine held up to the spice remarkably well.
It ends dry, long, juicy and a bit grippy and was even a bit better on day 2. This is a lovely wine.
2023 Planeta La Segreta Nero d’Avola
Looking for more great wine from Italy? Check out our giant list of The Best Italian Wines!
You can also find more of our favorite organic wines here.
Review Summary
Planeta La Segreta Nero d'Avola Review • Reverse Wine Snob
A Sicilian sweet tart! We review the 2023 Planeta La Segreta Nero d'Avola from Sicily, Italy.
7.3
Pros
- 89-90 points
- Very good example of Nero d'Avola
- Tart and juicy
Cons
- Variety is not as well known as it should be in the US
- May be hard to find
