Sardinia and Sicily (Lanterna Distrbutors)

WYPR - 88.1 FM Baltimore | By Al Spoler,

Hugh Sisson

Published January 4, 2017 at 4:19 PM EST

Apricots, as you can taste in the Nicosia Grillo

Hugh and Al on their new favorites from Sardinia and Sicily.

Nicosia Vulka Etna Bianco '15 ** $

Smooth, polished white, good as aperitif

Nicosia Vulka Etna Rosso '14 ** $

Smooth, with a few rustic touches

Nicosia Nero d'Avola '14 ** $

Nicely rustic, big old rambly red

Mesa Primo Scuro Cannonau de Sardegna red '11 **1/2 $$

Grenache based, and it shows, wonderful wine, good value

Mesa "Buio" Carignola del Sulcis '13 red **1/2 $$

Sicilian take on Carinagne, explosive flavors, big and juicy

Nicosia Grillo Sicily '15 white ** $ VALUE

Very likeable white, soft, round and flavorful

Al Spoler

Al Spoler, well known to WYPR listeners as the wine-loving co-host of "Cellar Notes" has had a long-standing parallel interest in cooking as well. Al has said, the moment he started getting serious about Sunday night dinners was the same moment he started getting serious about wine. Over the years, he has benefited greatly from being a member of the Cork and Fork Society of Baltimore, a gentlemen's dining club that serves black tie meals cooked by the members themselves who are some of Baltimore's most accomplished amateur cooks.

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Hugh Sisson

As General Partner of Clipper City Brewing Company, L.P., Hugh J. Sisson is among Baltimore's premier authorities on craft brewing and a former manager of the state's first pub brewery, Sissons, located in Federal Hill. A fifth generation Baltimorean, Hugh has been involved in all aspects of craft brewing.

See stories by Hugh Sisson