Tenuta Tascante, Ghiaia Nera
Disclaimer: We are not master sommeliers, wine critics, nor are we wine producers. Instead, we are your next-door neighbor who really loves drinking and sharing our wine discoveries with you. We feel wine should be approachable and not intimidating and enjoyed around a table with friends and family. Our recommendations share unique finds, their stories, along with taste profile, and food pairings, making your experience more enjoyable. Links to wine sellers provided below, are not connected to our website and we do not make money from clicks, marketing or reviews. The view of this wine and others we review on this site, is ours and ours alone. Enjoy!
Birthday milestones and toddlers don’t mix. If you’re a parent or you’ve been around kids during their formative tantrum years, you understand trying to have a fun night out, sometimes comes in the form of a nice bottle of wine. A birthday dinner that had reach its limit, I was in need of relief and found myself browsing the shelves at a wine shop in Tahoe. Juggling a restless kid and looking for a bottle, I was recommended an Occhipinti from Sicily by the nice guys at Uncorked Tahoe (Truckee). Knowing I gravitate towards higher elevation vineyards and their ability to produce grapes with thicker skins and stronger tannins, I found the wine fantastic and just what the doctor ordered. I then began exploring Sicilian wines and stumbled upon Tenuta Tascante’s, Ghiaia Nera, a wine that punches above its weight class and I would happily recommend with almost any meal.
Winery: Tenuta Tascante | Wine: Ghiaia Nera | Vintage: 2018 | Alcohol: 13% ABV
Body: Medium lightness | Acidity: Medium lightness | Tannin: Medium | Dry/Sweet: Dryer side
Food pairing: Beef, Lamb, Pasta, Fish | Comparable wine styles: Barbaresco, Burgundy
Tenuta Tascante produces their Ghiaia Nera from 100% young Nerello Mascalese vines. Planted on the northern slope of Mt. Etna, the wines name gives homage to the vineyards volcanic soil. A beautiful light red color, it has a nose of oak, cherry, with bright floral hints that lift out of the glass. Light on the palate, it has minerals and subtleties of vanilla, striking the right balance between light oak aging, fresh fruit tartness, and velvety tannins that grip your tongue lightly on finish. Elegant in its presentation, it offers a beautiful example of what is possible from this region at an approachable price.
Great on its own, this bottle of wine is very versatile when paired with food, but due to its subtly and lightness may become over whelmed if enjoyed with spicier cuisine.
Let us know what you think of our first wine recommendation!
Find this wine from these sellers:
