Cerasuolo di Vittoria 2008 - 91 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Why to buy: COS is the producer of natural wines in Sicily. This small estate has re-defined the island’s wine reputation by crafting incredibly nuanced and elegant wines that taste distinctly of the Mediterranean. This six-pack includes three of their sensual reds including the wine that launched the estate onto the international scene, their Nero di Lupo 2008.

Nose, palate and pairing:

Nero di Lupo 2008: Ruby red to garnet with aromas of cherries, tobacco, leather and spice. On the palate, it’s rich, but not heavy, and has notes of ripe black fruit, minerals and earth. Drink this wine with grilled game and cured meats.

Cerasuolo di Vittoria PITHOS 2010: Aged in amphora (large terracotta vases buried in the ground) for seven months, the deep ruby red wine is allowed to begin its own life and show what it means to be Sicilian with its aromas and flavors of cherries ("Cerasuolo" is derived from cirasa which is cherry in Sicilian dialect), wild herbs, dried blood oranges and dried flowers. This medium bodied wine has a finish for days and is a gorgeous pairing with roasted meats with plenty of herbs. We love it with lamb.

Cerasuolo di Vittoria 2008: Dried cherry, chocolate, smoke and spice on the nose of this deep ruby colored wine. It’s medium bodied and soft, gives cherry, truffle and smoky flavors in the mouth with a long finish. We love this wine with fish and chips.

The backstory: COS, founded in 1980 by three partners, set out to challenge what had become the norm in Sicilian winemaking. Through biodynamic farming and the use of clay amphora for fermentation, COS has become a “natural wine” icon and produces some of the most well regarded and exciting wines from the region.

What the critics say:"This is quite possibly the finest set of wines I have ever tasted from COS. Readers owe it to themselves to check out these ambitious wines, many of which also deliver phenomenal value...." - The Wine Advocate

Brand: Gilt Wine

Origin: Italy