Il Passo Nerello Mascalese, Vigneti Zabu 2022

Think of Nerello Mascalese as Sicily's answer to Pinot Noir - elegant and expressive, with a distinctly Mediterranean accent. From the hills around Lake Arancio near Sambuca di Sicilia in the southwest of the island, this shows a sunnier, more rounded side of the grape. It's got vivid cherry and wild strawberry flavours, with hints of dried herbs and soft spice. A light touch of oak adds a little extra depth without taking over. The tannins are fine, the acidity cuts cleanly through, and there's a subtle earthy note that anchors it to its origin. Simply put - well-judged fruit and structure in balance. Unmistakably Sicilian.

Slight chill advised. Spot on with grilled tuna, roast veg or anything tomato-based - the acidity's doing all the heavy lifting.

Vigneti Zabu in Sambuca di Sicilia, western Sicily caught the eye and winemaking talents of the renowned winemaker Valentino Sciotti who saw that they had great vineyards and a good winery but were missing the necessary expertise to make wines that the market required. Valentino, Sicilian winemaker Giuseppe Alfano Burruano, and their team of young winemakers took the already high-quality raw materials and transformed them into attractive and very drinkable wines that have become very popular because of their easy-going nature and superb value for money.