Tenuta delle Terre Nere "Etna" 2005

Following a long conversation with a wine distributor I was recently turned onto a shockingly good wine from Sicily, a region with a somewhat unenvious international wine tradition.

The Tenuta dell Terre Nere producers grow grapes on Mount Etna, vines that apparently live at the highest altitude in Europe. Well the rarified air and volcanic soil have produced something that is very reminiscent of a Cru class Burgundy. The identifying grapes are Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Capuccio. We enjoyed this with a grilled steak, but the complexity will accommodate a number of food pairings. For those of us who are fatigued by the spotty success of finding a pinot under $20 that's worth drinking, this is highly recommended.

Cost: $16
Rating: 90