Regaleali Vigna San Francesco Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
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Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling -
Wine
Enthusiast
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The Cabernet Sauvignon – similar to the Chardonnay, a variety that wasn’t recognized by the guideline of the time – was planted for the fìrst time in Sicily at the Regaleali Estate in 1985. Produced from a single vineyard, on the top of the San Francesco hill, with a South-West exposure, at a 570-meter altitude, with a sand, loam and clay soil composition. A strong and austere wine with a multi-toned typical freshness.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Opening to a thick and impenetrable appearance, the 2016 Sicilia Cabernet Sauvignon Tenuta Regaleali Vigna San Francesco is a velvety and seductive wine that glides over the palate with elegance and power. Blackberry, plum and dark prune segue to spice, tobacco and tar. There is a touch of rosemary essence, but basically this well-ripened Cabernet Sauvignon doesn't register the distracting vegetal or pyrazine aromas that past (distant past) editions have shown. In fact, there is a touch of warm-vintage sweetness on the close.
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James Suckling
A firm, fresh red with currant and blackberry aromas and flavors, as well as hints of hazelnuts and walnuts. Polished and delicious. More elegant than past vintages.
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Wine Enthusiast
Made entirely with Cabernet Sauvignon, this opens with aromas of dark-skinned berry, cooking spice and vanilla. The concentrated palate offers blackberry jam, cedar, mocha and a hint of sage alongside fine-grained tannins.
Other Vintages
2015-
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
The wines of Regaleali continue to grow in both quantity and quality thanks to the hard work and dedication of Count Giuseppe Tasca over the past 50 years. Today the winery is run by Lucio Tasca and his sons, Giuseppe and Alberto who are increasingly involved in management. Carlo Ferrini, one of Italy's most renown enologists, is makes the wines. In conjunction with the winery, Anna Tasca Lanza - Lucio's sister – also runs a highly regarded cooking school at the estate.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
A large, geographically and climatically diverse island, just off the toe of Italy, Sicily has long been recognized for its fortified Marsala wines. But it is also a wonderful source of diverse, high quality red and white wines. Steadily increasing in popularity over the past few decades, Italy’s fourth largest wine-producing region is finally receiving the accolades it deserves and shining in today's global market.
Though most think of the climate here as simply hot and dry, variations on this sun-drenched island range from cool Mediterranean along the coastlines to more extreme in its inland zones. Of particular note are the various microclimates of Europe's largest volcano, Mount Etna, where vineyards grow on drastically steep hillsides and varying aspects to the Ionian Sea. The more noteworthy red and white Sicilian wines that come from the volcanic soils of Mount Etna include Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio (reds) and Carricante (whites). All share a racy streak of minerality and, at their best, bear resemblance to their respective red and white Burgundies.
Nero d’Avola is the most widely planted red variety, and is great either as single varietal bottling or in blends with other indigenous varieties or even with international ones. For example, Nero d'Avola is blended with the lighter and floral, Frappato grape, to create the elegant, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, one of the more traditional and respected Sicilian wines of the island.
Grillo and Inzolia, the grapes of Marsala, are also used to produce aromatic, crisp dry Sicilian white. Pantelleria, a subtropical island belonging to the province of Sicily, specializes in Moscato di Pantelleria, made from the variety locally known as Zibibbo.