Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 95 points
The delicious 2011 Nero d'Avola Vrucara is one of the protagonists of Sicilian enology. Fabio Sireci is on an explosive upward trajectory that started at an already impressive quality level. His wines just get better and better. By law, a wine labeled Nero d'Avola must be 85% true to the variety, and I don't know if anything else is added here, but it hardly matters. Vrucara sees fruit sourced from the Principato di Villanova property in central Sicily. The wine is loaded tight with bold berry intensity, olive tapenade, hummus, crushed earth, tobacco and balsam herb. You rarely see this level of complexity with Nero d'Avola. I love everything about this beautiful wine. Fruit is sourced from 90-year-old pre-pylloxera vines.
Review date: January 2016
Vinous: 93 points
Dark ruby-red. Black cherry and mineral aromas are lifted by a strong violet quality. Fresh and juicy in the mouth, with violet and earth nuances complicating the bright, saline flavors of red cherry, dark plum and marzipan. The long finish features peppery tannins and a bright mineral overlay. I like this wine?s depth and bright delivery of fruit. A real step up in complexity and precision from the also-outstanding Nero d?Avola Vigna Lagnusa.
Review date: December 2015