TN: Wines from Islands

Notes from the blind tasting group – “wines from islands”

2017 Passopisciaro Passobianco – this Sicilian chardonnay has been quite good in the past but while still decent it showed some oxidation with this bottle, which didn’t bother me as much as some other tasters.

2022 Girolamo Russo Etna Bianco Nerina – this wine is a blend of Carricante, Catarratto, and other indigenous varieties. It showed a nice citrus nose and was clean and medium length.

2022 Wolff Estate Viognier Blend – the blend part was viognier from both Vancouver Island and Okanagan fruit. It had peachy melon notes in the nose and was smooth and balanced with a medium length clean finish, very slightly off dry.

2017 Suertes del Marqués Valle de la Orotava El Esquilon – from the Canary Islands, this is 100% listan negro (mission) grapes and had a light colour and a sweaty earthy nose but was nonetheless a quite pleasant drink.

2016 Craggy Range Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Te Muna Road Vineyard – this New Zealand pinot was medium colour and had a pleasant sweet raspberry. rhubarb nose with some smoke and a nice lengthy sweet finish.

2017 Statella, Etna Rosso, ‘Pettinociarelle’- this Sicilian wine, made up of 90% Nerello Mascalese / 10% Nerello Cappuccio was a dark wine with a ripe nose of red fruit, ripe in the mouth mostly raspberry notes coming through and had medium length, full bodied and tasty.

2012 Feudo Maccari Nero d'Avola Saia – very dark wine with a nose that was funky and a bit smoky, and in the mouth some spice and anise, and smooth finish. Nice wine.

2010 Palari Faro - this Sicilian wine showed an excellent spicy nose, smooth entry and was delicious on palate with good length. 60 percent Nerello Mascalese, 20 percent Nerello Cappuccio, 15 percent Nocera. Delicious, which pleased me as it was my wine.

Rare Wine Company Madeira Historic Series Charleston Sercial Special Reserve – light brown wine with nose of oranges and (sweeter) apricot, and very smooth in the mouth and a long warm finish with some cocoa at the end. Delightful.

Good theme, and one I'll pinch for a future tasting.

Must have been difficult sourcing such an assortment; hat off!

Yes, and although Australia would have qualified I felt that it would have been an easy way out so looked for something harder - as did everyone else. I'd give the prize for least likely to the Canary Islands entry.

Why would Australia have qualified? It's a continent, not an island. IMO Tasmania would have qualified, but not continental Australia. The key test: continents can have islands, but islands can't have continents.

-Paul W.

[Jenise]

Why would Australia have qualified? It's a continent, not an island. IMO Tasmania would have qualified, but not continental Australia. The key test: continents can have islands, but islands can't have continents.

-Paul W.

It's one very large island that also happens to be a continent. We said 'yes' when Bill asked, but you're right that it wasn't in character with the original intent.

[Jenise]

Good theme, and one I'll pinch for a future tasting.

Must have been difficult sourcing such an assortment; hat off!

I think all of these wines were things people had in their cellars as was the case for me, though I did momentarily consider going after a cab franc from Cyprus I saw in a local wine store.

[Jenise]

Some comments:

2017 Passopisciaro Passobianco – It was just too old. Everything that was lovely about this wine when it was young and fresh is gone. What's there would be a decent food match for a white cheddar omelet or French onion soup, but as a stand-alone first-of-the-day wine it wasn't pleasing.

2022 Girolamo Russo Etna Bianco Nerina – case in point for freshness: this younger white put it all out there. Instant happiness (at least for Coop and I) with a beautifully perfumed nose and intricate complexity on the palate.

2022 Wolff Estate Viognier Blend – IIRC this wine had more Siegerruebe (sp?) than viognier, which actually showed--there was a cloying spiciness I thought might be malvasia. I would guess the producer used the V word in naming it because people know what that is. It's well-made for what it is, but I'm not a fan of that kind of spice nor off-dryness, so I would pass on a second glass but I can understand why Sue liked it so much.

2017 Suertes del Marqués Valle de la Orotava El Esquilon – Sweaty, earthy--very truffle-y and my favorite red of the day for that reason. Loved it.

2016 Craggy Range Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Te Muna Road Vineyard – this showed beautifully with excellent secondary development.

2017 Statella, Etna Rosso, ‘Pettinociarelle’- My wine, and I was disappointed. Too roasted for me, definitely not what I expect from Nerello Mascalese, a grape I do love. You CAN taste the volcano, though!

2012 Feudo Maccari Nero d'Avola Saia – Yes, very good. Can't believe I just said something nice about a Nero D'Avola.

2010 Palari Faro - Best of the three Sicilians. It had an elegance the other two lacked.

Rare Wine Company Madeira Historic Series Charleston Sercial Special Reserve – what you said. I love these Madeiras and have been a buyer for a long time. Still have some in my cellar. I believe there are five in the collection but the Sercial is my favorite, followed by the Bual (which I believe carries the name Boston).