Nerello Cappuccio is a red grape indigenous to Sicily. It is less widely planted and lighter colored than Nerello Mascalese, the other Nerello grown in Sicily. They are commonly blended together in the vineyard or later in the cellar during the winemaking process. Nerello Cappuccio does not commonly have the character to make a varietal wine, but there are a couple of producers that are well known for their capability to make wines featuring Nerello Cappuccio. Both Nerello grapes are authorized to make Etna Rosso DOC wines, where grapes are cultivated in the volcanic soils around Mt Etna.
This week, I had a 2020 Benanti Nerello Cappuccio, Terre Siciliane IGT. Benanti is one of the producers that makes a 100% Nerello Cappuccio. I have been looking to try this grape for a while and found this bottle at my local wine shop on a recent shopping trip. Most blends I have found from this region have consisted of Nerello Mascalese and other red grapes from the region. This varietal wine is a pale ruby color with tawny highlights. It has aromas of fresh and dried red cherry, cranberry, cinnamon stick, white pepper, fresh thyme, mint and rocky minerality. The bright acidity balances the substantial firm tannins in the medium bodied wine. It is dry with a moderate level of alcohol. The intense red fruit, spice and herbal notes slowly dissipate on the long finish. I was surprised by the level of concentration of the flavors in this wine as well as the amount of textural components. After reading more about the grape, I was curious how expressive this bottle would be. After trying it, I found it to be a great representation of what this grape can be. This would be a wonderful wine to have with grilled steak, charcuterie or aged hard cheeses.
-TheLooseTannin
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