Duca di Salaparuta “Duca Enrico” Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC 2020
(Sicily, Italy) - [VM 92] [WE 92] [JS 91] [WS 90]

About the Winery:
Duca di Salaparuta was founded in 1824 and has been a leader in Sicilian wine and innovation. In the 1800s, the wine in Sicily was big and powerful. The Duke of Salaparuta, Giuseppe Alliata, decided to produce a delicate and elegant wine from the grapes of his own estate. With the third generation of winemakers, Duke Enrico followed in his family’s footsteps and his studies were the basis for what is currently their most iconic product, Duca Enrico, whose first vintage was bottled in 1984 — a revolution in Sicilian wine history. Duca di Salaparuta makes wine across three different Estates: Vajasindi Estate, Suor Marchesa Estate, and Risignolo Estate. The Vajasindi Estate in northeastern Sicily is 21 hectares of land located on the northern volcanic slopes of Mount Etna and divided into two terraces sitting at 700 meters and 620 meters above sea level. The Suor Marchesa Estate in the Riesi area in central, southern Sicily sits on a gentle hill with wind exposure where the summers are very hot and the winters mild and short. With 127 hectares of vineyards it was chosen for its southern exposure, excellent ventilation and sunlight, and limestone soil composition. The Risignolo Estate located in western Sicily in Salemi is 35 hectares of vineyards set in the sunny countryside chosen for its proximity to the sea and hillside position sitting between 300 and 350 meters above sea level. With mixed land, the climate is temperate, but with broad temperature differences. Duca di Salaparuta is truly a style icon choosing quality and naturalness created through a vigor for innovation and a bond with the terroir.

About this Wine:
Nero d’Avola is the most important red wine grape in Sicily, and is one of Italy’s most important indigenous varieties. It is named after Avola, a town in the far south of Sicily and its wines are compared to New World Shiraz, with sweet tannins and plum or peppery flavors. “The Black Grape of Avola” seems to have been selected by growers near Avola several hundred years ago. Initially it was confined to the southern tip of Sicily, but more recently has spread throughout the island. Its percentage is uncertain, though for sure there are no significant plantings outside of Sicily.

TASTING NOTES Ruby red with garnet red highlights. The bouquet is a blend of ripe fruit, irises, and spices. On the palate the wine is strong, round, well-balanced, with character and scents of wood blended perfectly. Great persistence.

CULTIVATION Bush-trained vines, density of at least 5,000 plants per hectare with low yield per plant.

VINIFICATION De-stemming of the grapes, maceration at 28-30°C for 8-10 days followed by malolactic fermentation.

AGING Aging for at least 18 months in fine oak casks, and 18 months in bottle before release.

Ratings & Reviews

92 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2020 Duca Enrico is spicy from the first tilt of the glass, blending medicinal cherries with cedar shavings, cloves and dried violets. This washes across the palette with silken textures contrasted by a core of zesty acidity. Tart red berry fruits and hints of sour citrus add tension throughout. It finishes with staining length while mixing savory and sweet as a cascade of spice and licorice slowly taper off. This energetic Nero d'Avola is a pleasure to taste yet requires a bit of cellaring to integrate its oak.” – Eric Guido (Jun 2024) 

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"On the nose, sweet aromas of vanilla, tobacco, blackberry and sugar plum waft above spicy, weightier notes of cinnamon, cardamom and clove. The more decadently sweet palate asserts flavors of macerated blackberries and whipped cream, but passion fruit also brings out the blackberries' tartness, and tannins provide grit." – Danielle Callegari (Dec 2024) 

91 Points - James Suckling:
"Licorice, star anise and cumin on the nose, alongside black cherries. Smoky hints, too. It’s bold, ripe and spicy with full body and broad tannins. Big and chewy. Drink now or hold." (Jul 2024) 

90 Points - Wine Spectator:
"There's a ripe, almost jammy quality to the black raspberry, black currant and black cherry fruit flavors, but all are balanced nicely by bright, blood orange peel acidity and savory notes of herbed olive, milled pepper and leather. The fine tannins are creamy on the licorice-laced finish. Drink now through 2027. 1,000 cases made, 100 cases imported.” – Alison Napjus (Dec 2024)