2023 Arianna Occhipinti "SP68" Nero D'Avola Frappato Rosso Sicilia

While this is a bit reductive when the cork is first pulled, once that has time to blow off, this has a really lovely nose to it. There's a kind of light and bright nature to the whole thing, letting you know that this is less a wine to be long pondered and contemplated, and more a wine to simply be enjoyed for the pretty little thing that it is. The red fruits on the nose have depth, a bit of smushed raspberry, baked strawberry, and a little bit of something zesty like a cranberry. The palate is the twin of the nose, the fruit is light and crunchy, more raspberry, cooked strawberry, pomegranate, and a little bit blood orange. There's some tannin here but not enough to slow you down, and there's a lot of delicious acidity that leaves your mouth watering and ready for that next sip. I cannot stress enough how I feel like this needs some air to really be at its peak, but once it's there it is enchantingly pretty, like a Princess that you had to get to know before you understood her sense of humor.