Vineyards and winemaking
Morgante's Nero d'Avola comes from vineyards dispersed around Grotte, near Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples. The vines grow between 350 and 550 metres above sea level in predominantly white calcareous soils with clay and marl, a setting that gives ripe Sicilian fruit an important current of freshness.
The grapes are hand-harvested and fermented at controlled temperature in stainless steel, with around 20 days on the skins to build colour and gentle structure. Maturation in stainless steel and concrete preserves the purity of the 2022 fruit, deliberately avoiding the new oak used for the estate's Don Antonio selection.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Deep ruby-purple with violet flashes and a bright, youthful rim.
Nose
Blackberry and blueberry are joined by blackcurrant, anise, thyme and a faint mineral note of tar, with dark chocolate appearing as the wine opens.
Palate
Medium-bodied and supple, with ripe woodland fruit, bright acidity and soft, fleshy tannins. Savoury herbs and liquorice keep the fruit grounded, while the unoaked finish remains clean and persistent, ending on black cherry and cocoa.
Food pairing
Serve with lamb koftas, roast pork with fennel, pasta alla Norma, or a tomato and lentil stew with smoked paprika. Its generous fruit and soft tannins also make it a relaxed partner for salami and semi-hard cheeses.
Background story
The Morgante family has cultivated vines in southern Sicily for five generations. Antonio Morgante and his sons Carmelo and Giovanni began making wine under their own name in 1994, later working with oenologist Riccardo Cotarella to focus the estate's experience on native Nero d'Avola.
This bottling is the pure, fruit-led foundation of the range. Where Don Antonio uses new French oak and long cellar ageing, the 2022 Nero d'Avola relies on stainless steel and concrete, presenting the grape with immediate clarity, soft texture and the freshness of Morgante's elevated vineyards.
