2021 Cartagho Nero d'Avola, Mandrarossa

• Style: Full-bodied, structured Sicilian red
• Taste: Blackberry, cherry, dates, maritime pine, savoury grip
• Food: Grilled lamb, roasted meats, baked pasta, aged cheeses
• Occasion: Sunday lunch, weeknight, special dinners
• Serve: 16–18°C, decant 20 mins, drink 2024–2029

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Deep purple-tinged red with unmistakable aromatic presence. The 2021 Cartagho announces blackberry and cherry at its heart, layered with a savoury whisper of dates and maritime pine that speaks to southwestern Sicily's coastal terroir. At 13.5% alcohol, this full-bodied Nero d'Avola carries structure and confidence without heaviness, retaining the fresh edge that makes it genuinely drinkable rather than merely showy.

The Winery — Mandrarossa

Mandrarossa represents a deliberate selection of the finest vineyard sites across Cantine Settesoli's southwestern Sicilian holdings. The Cartagho vines are planted on sandy soils at 150 metres elevation in the Menfi contrada, where sea breezes moderate intense summer heat and allow grapes to ripen fully while preserving freshness. Under winemaker Mimmo De Gregorio and consultant Alberto Antonini's direction, the fruit underwent cool fermentation in stainless steel over roughly ten days, then aged for a year in oak before bottling and four months' rest—a regime that delivers polish without over-extraction. The result is how Sicily's signature red grape expresses itself at genuine class: ripe, structured, savoury.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This wine sings alongside grilled lamb, roasted meats, baked pasta with meat sauce, and aged cheeses. Its structure and tannin grip make it equally at home at weeknight suppers and Sunday lunches, or as the centrepiece of robust braises and stews. Serve at 16–18°C, with a 20-minute decant to settle it; it will develop gracefully through 2024–2029. Mandrarossa sits proudly in our full bodied red wine collection and among our broader Italy selection as proof that ambitious quality winemaking thrives well beyond the traditional north. Vegan and vegetarian friendly too.