"The organic Feudo Montoni 2020 Sicilia Nero d'Avola Vrucara is a wine that vintner Fabio Sireci has been working to improve for many years. It remains one of the best expressions of the grape on the market today. Since the 2017 vintage, it has included 15% stems. The "progetto raspi" is something that was passed down from Fabio's father, Elio. The trick is to avoid the bitterness of the stems, something Fabio does by sun-drying the fruit on cane mats as if it were an appassimento. The wine ages in cement for 40 months. The fruit comes from a 2.2-hectare site with clay and sand at 500 meters in elevation. This vintage (just 400 cases made) shows a very ripe fruit profile with blackberry, baked plum and grilled herb. Those robust flavors fold into a medium-plus mouthfeel that is indeed soft and plush, with no astringency. Soft mineral tones give a sense of brightness to the finish." -Wine Advocate, 93WA