Feudo Montoni Lagnusa Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC
Great entry-level Nero d’Avola from Feudo Montoni showing dark fruit and notes of black truffle and an underlying minerality.
'there are few estates anywhere in Italy making more compelling wines today'
Ian d'Agata, Vinous.
Lagnusa, in the Cammarata area, is the name of the cru (certified organic) from which the grapes are sourced and comes from the Sicilian word for ‘lazy.’ A bit harsh, but the soil gives little, making the vines work hard to produce low yields of concentrated fruit.
Altitude: Sitting at 600 meters above sea level, the 35-year-old vines (grafted by hand onto older roots) face east on sandy clay soils. These vines were selected (massale) from mother vines in the Vrucura cru. In the winery, the juice is fermented in cement containers, with Malolactic fermentation taking place completely in cement. The wine the recieves three ageing stages. Around 20 months in cement to allow the wine to mature, around four months on oak to add a little texture and then the same again in bottle to settle. The result is generous, intense and fruit-forward yet fresh wine.
Made with organically farmed fruit, the 2017 Sicilia Nero d'Avola Lagnusa is a terrific entry-level wine from sunny Sicilia. You get a lot of authentic charm here with variety-driven tones of black fruit, scorched earth and chopped olive. Those aromas find nice harmony while also showing charming intensity.
89 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, December 2018.