A second label of Valle dell'Acate's, the Case Ibidini range (pronounced ‘bidini) consists of varietally labeled wines from the estate intended for more casual consumption. The local name of the area where the estate is situated, Bidini, is drawn from the ancient root Bidis. This in turn referred to the name of a group of early Hellenic settlers who populated the area nearly 20 centuries ago. These wines provide a purity and authenticity reflective of the philosophy of the estate, all at an affordable price. Made from 100% Nero d'Avola grapes grown in me... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The just-bottled 2007 Passopisciaro is a weightless yet powerful wine redolent of sweet candied cherries, flowers, herbs and minerals. The wine reveals lovely density and purity, even if a few days of rain towards the end of the growing season in November robbed it of the intensity that informs the very finest vintages. Still, there is gorgeous purity to the fruit that insures this will be fascinating wine to follow over the coming years. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2021. Andrea Franchetti wasn’t content to just m... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

3 Glasses Gambero Rosso! According to the Wine Spectator: "There's ripe currant and a hint of vanilla on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, with unobtrusive, fruit-coated tannins and a dense, balanced and lingering finish. Shows depth. Delicious. Drink now. 500 cases made." 89 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Nero d’Avola Deliella from Principi di Buttera is a plump, juicy wine packed with varietal red fruits, mint, sweet toasted oak and flowers. This plump, juicy wine reveals tons of length in a polished, contemporary style, with sweet n... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

92 points and Highly Recommended, Wine Spectator: "This has subtle aromas of blackberry, mineral and lavender. Full-bodied, with soft, silky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. A succulent red. All in the right place. A classy wine. Drink now. 4,420 cases made." (08/08). 100% Nero d'Avola 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

The Scilio wine estate lies on the north eastern side of Mount Etna, in one of Sicily's most beautiful areas. The farmhouse and cellars date back to 1815 and are surrounded by the organically cultivated vineyards, where for centuries the traditions of winemaking have been handed down from generation to generation. The peculiar climatic conditions of the area, the volcanic soil and a low yield per vine are essential for the production of Etna’s famous wines. For the last four generations the Scilio family have continued to cultivate passionately the 28 he... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

According to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2007 Frappato is a mid-weight offering with a pretty core of perfumed, candied red berries. The ethereal qualities of the wine make it a good match for lighter foods. This quirky, soft red is best enjoyed over the near-term. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2010. I was very impressed with the wines I tasted from Valle dell’Acate. A number of these wines are priced below or around $25 and are terrific values." (04/09) The Valle Dell'Acate estate covers over 100 hectares in Eastern Sicily, producing IGT and DOC w... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Considering the myriad grape varieties of Italy, it's not surprising that many of us have not even heard of more than a few of them. Chances are good, however, that we'll all be hearing a lot more about Inzolia, one of Sicily's native grapes found mainly in the region surrounding Mt. Etna. This stupendous new arrival is vibrant, fresh, balanced yet soft and luscious, and a great value 

Inventory: San Francisco

The brooding presence of Mt. Etna makes for some interesting pictures in this part of Sicily, it also makes for the ideal growing conditions for the local nerello mascalese grape (near-ello masca-lazay). This is Greg St. Clair's (K&L's Italian buyer) personal favorite Sicilian red variety. It resembles nebbiolo a bit in structure but without heavy tannins. It's complex with a good mix of fruit and earth, plus it's a steal! 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

According to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2007 Etna Bianco di Caselle (Carricante) offers up an attractive core of peaches and apricots on a medium-bodied frame, with pretty notes of minerals and ash that add complexity on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2011." (04/09) This apple-scented wine is 100% carricante, a local grape grown as alberello (free standing bush) throughout the Mt. Etna zone, and found nowhere else in the entire wine-making world! Little wonder it has caught on here, as it creates a wine of richness but also delicacy, wi... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

Sicily's most elegant wines come from this small producer located in the hills around Messina. The winemaking philosophy under Salvatore Geraci is simple: make two wines with the same indigenous grapes but with different selections. His top wine is the Faro. Faro (which means lighthouse) is a little DOC, almost the smallest in Italy. With just above 6 hectares (15 acres) in the DOC area, the production is clearly tiny. Sicily's increasing focus on modern production techniques and international varieties has had some great success, as at the Planeta estat... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

A superb blend of hand harvested Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio from the northern slope of Mt.Etna. Elegant, bracing, supple and mineral laden this wine stretches the boundaries for rose'. A beautiful color and a truly complex wine, the perfect accompaniment for pasta, fish or grilled chicken. 

Inventory: Hollywood

Along with its proverbial pleasantness, this year’s Anthìlia is also more complex. Thanks to the territory’s great potential, this was accomplished through research conducted on new plantings and definition of a new blend. In the Anthìlia 2008 besides the traditional Ansonica and Catarratto grapes (accounting for 80%) were added other varieties that have proven to go together best. The year’s fine weather enabled the grapes to ripen without a high degree of sugar content and to reach good acidity. The Anthìlia 2008 is fairly low on alcohol and rich in fr... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

89 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Il Moro (100% Nero d’Avola) presents the more delicate, ethereal side to this bottling. The wine reveals pretty dark red fruit, flowers, spices and minerals in a feminine, restrained style that lacks some of the sheer dazzle of the 2006. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2011. I was very impressed with the wines I tasted from Valle dell’Acate. A number of these wines are priced below or around $25 and are terrific values." (04/09) Fermented in stainless steel tanks, this is the ultimate in pure 100% nero d'avo... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

Considering the myriad grape varieties of Italy, it's not surprising that many of us have not even heard of more than a few of them. Chances are good, however, that we'll all be hearing a lot more about Inzolia, one of Sicily's native grapes found mainly in the region surrounding Mt. Etna. This stupendous new arrival is vibrant, fresh, balanced yet soft and luscious, and a great value 

Inventory: Redwood City

From 40-year-old nerello mascalese vineyards, this ruby red wine, grown on the lunar-like slopes of Mt. Etna, offers a richly fruited aroma with notes of vanilla and layers of red and black fruits, while on the palate it is long and supple, with firm tannin and amazing persistence. 80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% Nerello Cappuccio. Benanti is one of the best producers of the region and was recently awarded the Winery of the Year title at a Gambero Rosso event in San Francisco! According to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Etna Rosso di Verzella (N... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

From 40-year-old nerello mascalese vineyards, this ruby red wine, grown on the lunar-like slopes of Mt. Etna, offers a richly fruited aroma with notes of vanilla and layers of red and black fruits, while on the palate it is long and supple, with firm tannin and amazing persistence. 80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% Nerello Cappuccio. Benanti is one of the best producers of the region and was recently awarded the Winery of the Year title at a Gambero Rosso event in San Francisco! 

Inventory: Hollywood

Supple, aromatic and 100% Nero d'Avola in a really pure expression of Siciliy's most famous varietals. Greg St.Clair K&L's Italian Buyer 

Inventory: Hollywood

Etna Rosso is made of Nerello Mascalese, with the permitted addition of up to 20% Nerello Cappuccio, of which Ciro Biondi takes full advantage. This shows an almost Burgundian combination of finesse and substance, leaving a wonderful lingering impression on the palate . The enologist here is Salvo Foti, also from Etna, whose respect for the indigenous flavors of the mountain is evident; the wine shows no overt oak, only excellent, clean and balanced winemaking. This wine has far more weight and complexity than you'd expect from the relatively pale color... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse

91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2007 Passito di Pantelleria Ben Rye (Zibibbo) offers compelling notes of candied ginger, dried figs, spices, flowers and minerals. This is a medium-bodied Ben Rye that comes across as especially beautiful, without the cloying heaviness some vintages have had. The 2007 is a great showing for one of Italy’s most unique sweet wines. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2017." (04/09) 

Inventory: Hollywood

A blend of Nero d'avola and Frapatto (60/40) from one of Sicily's best-known wineries, Planeta. Produced in Vittoria, the wine is a vibrant ruby red showing bright fruit aromas and flavors like strawberry and cherry, with hints of fig. Distinctive, with food-friendly acidity and a supple texture, this wine's finish is long and rewarding. Try serving with risotto balls or Sfincione (a Sicilian-style pizza). 

Inventory: Hollywood

Marsala may be the best known wine made from Grillo, but that doesn't mean it's the only one. Marco de Bartoli uses the Sicilian varietal as the foundation for his Vecchio Samperi Ventennale, a dessert wine that is comprised of 70% Grillo and 30% Inzolia. This amber-hued dessert wine's allure starts with a nose like ambrosia - dried fruit, savory herbs, almonds and aceto - which carry over to the unctuous palate with waves of acidity. Long on the finish, this beautiful wine should last for 20 to 30 years. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

The Poggio di Bortolone estate has been part of the Cosenza family since the end of the 17th century, and has been handed down from father to son, to find today’s owners to be Ignazio Cosenza and his son Pierluigi. This blend of syrah (80% and cabernet sauvignon (20%) is ruby red with aromas of berries and hints of vanilla. Dry, balanced and with a velvety, long finish. Aged for 6 months in barrique and 6 months in bottle. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

Palari Rosso del Soprano has an intense ruby red color. The fragrance is loaded with concentrated perfumes of typical berry and jam. A dry wine with lots of lush, spicy black fruit flavors in the mouth helps ease the tannins so that all comes together in a ripe and youthful finish. An appealing noble wine with great aging potential depending on the vintage. This wine is best suited for just about everything, from spicy pastas to grilled meat or barbecued chicken, and aged cheeses. A blend of local grape varieties: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, No... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City San Francisco

91 points Robert Parker: "The 2005 Outis (80% Nerello Mascalese, 20% Nerello Cappuccio) is a subtle wine laced with perfumed red cherries, sweet herbs, crushed flowers and spices. Fine, silky tannins frame the fruit all the way through to the long finish. This weightless, ethereal red perfectly captures all of the qualities that make the wines of the Etna so fascinating. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020. (04/09) 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

Rich, intense, fruity, this wonderful white shows peach mousse, black figs, rose, vanilla cream on the nose with overtones of hazelnut with a hint of orange blossom honey. The wood is delicate and hidden beneath the fruit fragrances. Soft, strong and round in the mouth, its wonderful balance is held by a powerful streak of acidity, aided by richness of mineral salts and consistency of extracts. The fermentation and ageing is carried out in 225-litre French oak barrels, 50% new and 50% one year old. 90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "... Read More » 

Inventory: Redwood City

Cerasuolo di Vittoria is a simple red wine, best consumed young; a typical terroir-driven expression of fruit fruit and more fruit. It is made largely from frappato and small amounts of nero d'avola, macerated ever so briefly to bring out the bright fruit of both grapes. This red smells of cherry and peach with a beguilingly salty and refreshing palate. 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City

90 points Wine Enthusiast: "Rovitello (a traditional blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio from Mount Etna) delivers a steady stream of berry flavors followed by spice, clove, vanilla and drying mineral tones. The wine offers tight, polished tannins with uncommon sophistication and elegance that leaves a lasting impression." (02/09) 90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2004 Etna Rosso Rovitello (Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccino) is a deeply-colored, intense wine loaded with dark red fruits, spices, earthiness and minerals. The w... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

Produced from hand-harvested Nero d'Avola grown in the vineyard of Timpanara and aged in oak. A full bodied ruby red wine with an intense nose displaying ripe fruit and quite a bit of it! This wine is harmonious and balanced, with cherries and pomegranate flavors, and a full velvety palate. 

Inventory: Hollywood

Cerasuolo di Vittoria is a simple red wine, best consumed young; a typical terroir-driven expression of fruit fruit and more fruit. It is made from of 60% nero d'avola & 40% frappato, macerated ever so briefly to bring out the bright fruit of both grapes. This red smells of cherry and peach with a beguilingly salty and refreshing palate. 

Inventory: Hollywood

3 Glasses Gambero Rosso! 94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Golden yellow with a bright orange tinge. Explosive, highly perfumed aromas of ripe apricot, peach, citrus fruits, cinnamon and pepper. Pure and clean, with impressive depth to the ripe citrus and peach flavors; an undercurrent of tropical fruits contributes volume and flesh. The concentrated, very long finish throws off notes of lavender and acacia honey. Perhaps the best-ever Ben Rye, amazingly intense yet elegant and impeccably balanced. " (Jul/Aug 08) 90 points Robert Par... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

According to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Biondi is another of the producers making interesting wines on Mount Etna. These wines show remarkable clarity as well as finesse in their aromas, flavors and textures." 60% Carricante, 40% field blend of Minnella, Malvasia, Catarrati, Moscatello. The combination of bright acidity and minerality from the Carricante and the complex aromatic notes from the other varieties come together harmoniously in the glass. (Unblended Carricante can be almost too lean and minerally.) This unusual white shows aromas of wet... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

Palari Rosso del Soprano has an intense ruby red color. The fragrance is loaded with concentrated perfumes of red berry and jam. A dry wine with lots of lush, spicy black fruit flavors in the mouth helps ease the tannins so that all comes together in a ripe and youthful finish. An appealing noble wine with great aging potential. This wine is best suited to spicy pastas, barbecued chicken or aged cheeses. 

Inventory: Main Warehouse

This super Sicilian is 100% Nero d’Avola, and with a good measure of age on it, too. It offers a an inticing blend of ripe fruit, flowers and spices with a strong, round, well-balanced palate impression that blends fruit with oak rather perfectly. Great persistence! 

Inventory: Redwood City