Winemaker Notes
Delicate aromas of chamomile, hay and mandarin and a mineral palate with vibrantly savoury traces which quiver and quench. Then the rhythm changes to become slower and more harmonious, an invitation to sip this outstanding white wine with the correct quietude enjoying its every change of tone. A silky tactile finish with a refined aftertaste of ripe apricot, of almond flowers and basil flowers. Pair this with some freshly caught and grilled snapper.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A terrific production of 60,000 bottles, the Planeta 2019 Sicilia Menfi Cometa is an icon wine of Sicily and deservedly so. Fiano is simply radiant and lusciously rich in this medium-bodied expression. The 2019 vintage shaped nicely concentrated and flavorful fruit of apricot, honey and baked pear. Only 10% of the wine sees oak, but that's more than enough to render the extra depth and soft textural richness that puts this wine a cut above the other more one-dimensional interpretations of this indigenous Italian grape.
Fiano is an aromatic, white variety fully suited to the Apennine Mountains of Campania and has been documented in the region since the 13th century. It is at its best in the hills of Avellino where volcanic soils give it a charismatic aromatic lift and support a range of styles from taut and steely to nutty and smooth. Somm Secret—If you like Chardonnay, Viognier or Pinot Blanc, Fiano would be a great new wine to try!
A large, geographically and climatically diverse island, just off the toe of Italy, Sicily has long been recognized for its fortified Marsala wines. But it is also a wonderful source of diverse, high quality red and white wines. Steadily increasing in popularity over the past few decades, Italy’s fourth largest wine-producing region is finally receiving the accolades it deserves and shining in today's global market.
Though most think of the climate here as simply hot and dry, variations on this sun-drenched island range from cool Mediterranean along the coastlines to more extreme in its inland zones. Of particular note are the various microclimates of Europe's largest volcano, Mount Etna, where vineyards grow on drastically steep hillsides and varying aspects to the Ionian Sea. The more noteworthy red and white Sicilian wines that come from the volcanic soils of Mount Etna include Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio (reds) and Carricante (whites). All share a racy streak of minerality and, at their best, bear resemblance to their respective red and white Burgundies.
Nero d’Avola is the most widely planted red variety, and is great either as single varietal bottling or in blends with other indigenous varieties or even with international ones. For example, Nero d'Avola is blended with the lighter and floral, Frappato grape, to create the elegant, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, one of the more traditional and respected Sicilian wines of the island.
Grillo and Inzolia, the grapes of Marsala, are also used to produce aromatic, crisp dry Sicilian white. Pantelleria, a subtropical island belonging to the province of Sicily, specializes in Moscato di Pantelleria, made from the variety locally known as Zibibbo.