Straightforward pleasant and fresh Nero. Herbal and spicy notes support the nicely ripened fruit. Wood plays only plays a minor role. Finishes with pleasantly crisp acidity. As it shuld be, a versatile summer food wine. Good value. Tasted June 2015.

You can't ask for much more for the price, and this beautifully-labelled Nero d'Avola certainly delivers good depth and flavour for $14. It has characteristic varietal notes of blackberry and other black and purple fruit, along with some black pepper, but more than anything it brings the cask flavours of Bourbon to the fore, particularly oak, vanilla, and cinnamon and other brown baking spices, and the result is a certain overriding sweetness, the fruit hidden in the background. It's still very tasty in its youth, but I'm not sure it really has anywhere to go from here.