Feudo Montoni 'Vrucara' Prephylloxera Nero d’Avola 2018
Vrucara is the name of the cru from which the grapes hail. The name has its origins in a vineyard of which the land has always been called “Vrucara.” It takes this name due to the presence of vruca, a Sicilian word for a bush that grows spontaneously around the vineyard. This herb has aromas of menthol mixed with those of incense oil. Transferred into the old, unique vines, we notice this aroma in the wine.
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A bright ruby red color, Vrucara is intense and persistent on the nose with earthy aromas, notes of red plum and dark berries, which are in harmony with notes of rose petal, vanilla, balsamic, eucalyptus and licorice. Soft and velvety on the palate, with a delicate acidity and well-balanced and soft tannins. Vrucara has a prolonged aromatic persistence on the finish.
Harvest: Handpicked and placed in small cases
Vinification: Fermentation in cement containers with a long maceration of 30 days on the skins. The pressing is made in an old wood press. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation takes place in cement.
Aging: 45 months in cement, 6 months in barrels, 6 months in the bottle.
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Varietal Composition | 100% Nero d’Avola |
| Appellation | Sicilia |
| Alcohol | 14.00% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Country of Origin | ITALY |
| State of Origin | N/A |
| Artificially Carbonated | No |
| Sparkling Wine | No |
This is Fabio Sireci's top wine, and it shows consistent quality year after year (even in a challenging year such as 2018). The organic Feudo Montoni 2018 Sicilia Nero d'Avola Vrucara (with 5,700 bottles made) is a dark and penetrating expression with sweet cherry and blackberry contrasted against tobacco, smoke and baking spice. It delivers nice softness and textural weight. Fabio is experimenting with some stem inclusion using air-dried clusters. I recently hosted a class on the icon wines of Sicily and was proud to include an older vintage of Vrucara. - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 pts
The nose on Feudo Montoni's Vrucara Nero d'Avola opens like an old book—leathery and dusty—with dried flowers and then peppery herbs. Cherries, strawberries, vanilla and cola come out on the palate, followed by more herbs and pepper notes. Integrated and elegant, with firm tannins and sparkling acid. - Wine Enthusiast, 92 pts
An elegant red, with subtle juiciness to the flavors of baked cherry and raspberry, warm spice, mocha and loamy earth. Fresh and well-knit, with silky tannins and a lingering finish. Nero d'Avola. Drink now through 2028. - Wine Spectator, 90 pts
Altitude: 500 meters above the sea level
Exposure: East-facing vineyard
Soil composition: Clay and sand
Vineyard Age: From prephylloxera vines, which we consider our “mother plants.” The vines in the Vrucara contain our unique and old genetic code of Nero d’Avola, guarded for centuries at Montoni. The first mention of these plants was in 1590 in the De Naturali Vinorum Historia.
Vine density: 2,600 plants per hectare
Training system: Bush vines
Pruning system: Bush vines
