Planeta Plumbago Nero d’Avola 2019

Plumbago or ‘Ploom-baggo’ grows in Menfi and around Ulmo, coming out in Spring though not right away. In nero d’avola it is a red that manifests Menfi missives though Planeta chooses to label it not in menzione geographica terms but rather Sicilia DOC. This is because a new vineyard’s fruit is involved and so it was not requested to be Menfi, but again in 2021 will be. Always rolling deep and seasoned, a black cherry and seasoned meaty depth yet ’19 seems to have more stones, air and lightness, a relative thing but it makes a difference. This Plumbago really gets it, or maybe we get it and how it translates transparently. Less rustic than usual, a wood adjustment made and so here with a bit more sympathy and less dealing with the devil. Or more perhaps? It may say, ‘Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name. But what’s puzzling you, is the nature of my game.’ Drink 2023-2028. Tasted March 2022. Score – 92. (Michael Godel, winealign.com)