Italian
Connection - Cusumano
Whether it's sipping Frascati
at the Pantheon piazza in Rome, watching
the beautiful people promenade around the
fountain... Or savoring a luscious bottle
of Chianti in a cozy Florence trattoria.
An extravagant picnic in Sienna featuring
a Super Tuscan. Classic Venetian fish dishes
with a white wine from Gavi or Soave. Exploring
the classic wineries of Piedmont or relaxing
by Lake Como with a glass of... anything!
Italy is synonymous with outstanding wine,
great food, and la dolce vita. It also happens
to be one of our favorite place in the world
and the home of some of our favorite wines.
 Third
generation Sicialian winemakers Diego and
Alberto Cusumano are a great example of
the "new Sicily" with its crop
of young and talented producers determined
to put the region on the quality wine map.
Long better known for bulk
wines shipped around the world to be used
in various blends, Sicily has begun to carve
a niche for itself by using both indigenous
grapes, like Nero d'AVola, and international
varities -- and by gaining experience on
the varied -- perhaps surprisingly so --
climates and conditions that Sicily offers.
We've recently tasted several
new releases from Cusumano -- and sincerely
enjoyed the experience. Very interesting!
Good fruit, nice structure and good bang
for the buck, for the most part. Here's
the skinny:
($14). Insolia
is another indigenous Sicily grape, and
this one offers some of the body and palate
weight of a Chardonnay with the aromatic
intensity of a Sauvignon Blanc. Crisp apple,
ripe tropical citrus, maybe a hint of fig,
and a dash of mineral combine nicely, with
a long, fruity finish. Ready to drink now.
Locate
this wine online or in your area.
($14). Here, 30% Chardonnay is blended in,
and the result is even more body and richness,
with crisp apple and stonefruit leading
the way, and cream and citrus zest accenting
the full finish. Ready to drink now. Great
deal! Locate
this wine online or in your area.
($14). Fresh red
berry and currant flavors are touched with
spice and toast. Supple and easy to enjoy.
Ready to drink now. Locate
this wine online or in your area.
 ($15).
Smooth black cherry and ripe red strawberry
are laced with a touch of black pepper.
Appealing creamy texture. Ready to drink
now. Locate
this wine online or in your area.
($18). Pretty floral aromas accent bright
red currant and cherry flavors that pick
up toast and light herbal notes through
the focused finish. Ready to drink now.
Locate
this wine online or in your area.
($36). Intense and concentrated, with aromatic
floral and red currant flavors accented
with warm baking spices, mineral and toasty
oak. Long, bright, elegant finish. Ready
to drink now and over the next three or
four years. Locate
this wine online or in your area.
($45). Sort of
a variation on a Bordeaux blend, with dusty
blackberry and a touch of cedar. The fruit
is pretty, but overall found the wine to
lack the structure and complexity that a
$45 wine should have. Ready to drink now.
Locate
this wine online or in your area.
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Cusumano
2006 Insolia Sicilia