Life is too short to drink bad wine

This is a delightful and fresh red wine from Sicily based upon the Frappato grape. Cherry flavours on the nose and quite a refreshing acidity on the palate. Beautiful balance and taste that can remind one of a red Burgundy, but with quite a high acidity that requires food like lamb for example. A very nice alternative to the expensive red Burgundies. Il Frappato 2012 Occhipinti Sicilia

Wine # 1 Medium purple coloured wine with purple rim. Somewhat closed on the nose, but with some notes of red fruit and hints of spices and chocolate. Very juicy and fruity taste and virtually tannin free taste. The acidity is not overwhelming, but still very much present. A decent wine for every day drinking. Panel somewhat lost between Pinot Noir and Sangiovese with Barbera discarded due to lack of colour. Barbera d'Alba 2012 Bruno Giacosa Score 15.90 Ca 250 NOK Wine # 2 Medium red colour with a red rim. Massive and impressive nose of flowers, dark fruit, spices, tar and licorice. The taste is really demanding and the wine certainly require food to blossom. An enormous acidity and also firm tannins that play together quite well at this stage. Definitely a Nebbiolo. Oops wrong again as it is 100% Aglianico from Taurasi in south Italy. Massive wine. Radici Taurasi 2006 Score 17.60 Ca 330 NOK Wine # 3 Very similar to the wine number two which again le...

This is very reasonable Pinot Noir from Sicily. It's not like a red Burgundy, so if it is that you expect then this is not the wine for you. It's got a nice black currant dominated nose with a fruity, smooth and silky taste. Light bodied wine with a firm acidity. Pinot Noir is an unusual grape on Sicily and the wine is thus an IGT. Boccantino Pinot Noir  Sicily IGT Low price

This is a lovely "table wine" from Sicily by a young producer called Occhipinti. Frappato is a local grape and can remind you of a Burgundy in a way. Lots of fresh red fruit, perhaps more towards redcurrants and strawberries. Touch of herbs as well. Best served a bit chilled to get out the aromas and the fresh fruity and lively acidity in the wine. Great balance. Il Frappato 2011 Occhipinti Sicily Ca 25€ or 240NOK

This is the top wine from Occhipinti in Sicily where the grapes Frappato and Nero d'Avola have been combined in perfect harmony. Medium purple color  and a pronounced nose of sweet red berries in bedded some spices and darker fruit. Splendid taste packed with fresh red fruit, a great minerality and a delicious acidity. Juicy, long and Burgundy like. A truly great wine only just above 4000 bottles made…. Try with game or big dishes with poultry. Grotte Alte 2008  Cerasoulo de Vittoria DOCG Occhipinti, Sicily Ca 30-35€ or 350NOK Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti

This is a wine from Sicily by the young and very promising producer called Occhipinti. The grape is called Nero d'Avola which means dark from Avola, I believe. The wine has a medium deep purple red colour with a nice intensity. The bouquet is super lovely packed with red fruit like redcurrant, plum and a bit of spice. When drank slightly chilled the taste is very seductive and juicy with soft tannins and a beautiful acidity. Gourgeous stuff! Siccagno 2010 Nero d'Avola Occhipinti, Sicily Ca 20€ or 250NOK

This is a wine from Sicily and is a mix of the two local grapes called Nero d'Avola and Frappato. When I drink this one it makes me think of freshly made redcurrant juice. It's packed with red fruit elements like red cherries, strawberries, raspberries and also redcurrant. The taste is very fresh and juicy, nearly a bit "raw". Nicely balanced acidity. Should go well with chicken, veal and pork. SP 68 by Occhipinti, 2012 Sicily, Ca 190 NOK or 15€

This wine is from Sicily and is made from old vines of Mascalese and Mantelkato (40-140 years). Caldera Sottana is grown at 700 m altitude and is wonderfully rich and spicy. A charming lovely wine with hints of minerals and a lovely smooth finish. Great redcurrant smell and balanced acidity and tannins. Not unlike a red Burgundy on the taste. Would probably work with red meat. Ca 25€. Tenuta delle Terre Nere, Etna Rosso, 2009, Calderara Sottana