Purato Nero d'Avola IGT `10 $14.99 **

I'll admit to being sarcastic when it comes to the "Green" movement. I spent my childhood lugging wood for the wood-stove and looking at my mother's home canned green beans every time I took the stairs to the cellar freezer to get the home grown & butchered pork - you can't get much greener or "locavore" than growing up in an economically challenged farming community.  But now, 30 years later, I live on the "Gold Coast" in Gatsby World.  When I look at the $14.99 price tag on a $9.99 bottle of wine, I just have to laugh to myself - you've come a long way baby. (maybe it is time to go back)

JPH didn't buy this wine because it says:  The label is made from 100% recycled paper, uses 100% vegetable ink to print and uses 100% recycled cardboard for shipping and an 85% recycled glass bottle. (Thank Goodness!) He bought it because he & S. like Nero d'Avola, and the overpriced wine shop proprietor recommended it. All ranting aside about being "Green", this is an ok wine. 100% Nero d'Avola, 13.5% ETOH.

I was remind to never judge a wine on the first pour from the bottle.  I was greedy and wanted instant gratification, so I unscrewed the top, poured a glass and took a swig.  shudder.  You can't swig wine!  I should know that!  I set my glass aside and went back to the mise en place for dinner (or gossiping about how bad my day at work was... I can't remember) JPH was smart and pointed me to a nice sherry as an apéritif.

Half an hour later, the pasta sauce was bubbling, the filet was in the oven and I was ready to really try the Purato Nero d'Avola.  It is young, bright and pretty good.  It has a very aggressive fruit (tart blackberry)forward, and a spicy (almost peppery) middle, with a balanced finish.  It really is easy to drink with a meal, but I don't really like it as a stand alone sipping wine.

Purato seems to be a fairly new venture from the Sicilian producer Feudo di Santa Tresa.  There is nothing about this wine on their website, but it is clearly labelled as theirs. Made with Organic Grapes, and called "Eco Friendly" it is what it is: Ok wine with an interesting marketing twist.

Menu:
Tenderloin
Sauteed Spinach with Garlic
Tagliatelle with Mushroom Cream Sauce