Feudo Arancio Riserva 2018
- 93
- $40
- Drink by: 2022-2032
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This producer’s top red comes from a couple of varying vineyards (their estate vineyards at Ragusa and Agrigento), with the aim to provide contrast and complexity. Made from Nero d’Avola, 70% spends eight to ten months in French oak, with the remaining 30% aged in stainless steel, to help emphasise the fruit. Fermentation was for 10 to 12 days. After blending, the wine spends a short period in stainless steel and is then aged for another year in bottle before release. The wine is deep red/garnet in colour. The nose is immediately expressive with notes of cherries, warm earth, tobacco leaves, leather and hints of chocolate and plums. There is good complexity here with a supple, balanced palate and a line of good acidity running the length. The tannins are especially fine but there is certainly plenty of them. Nice balance throughout, this is impressive stuff and will drink well over the next decade.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
