Valdibella 'Kerasos / 2023 / 750mL

The Valdibella "Kerasos" Nero d'Avola 2023 is a bright, juicy Sicilian red built around dark cherry fruit and a savoury, sun-warmed edge. It leans towards freshness and drinkability rather than heft, which makes it an easy red to open on a weeknight.

The nose leads with black cherry and plum, then a lift of dried oregano, wild fennel and a little crushed stone. On the palate the fruit is generous but not sweet, carrying through with mulberry, blood orange peel and a peppery, herbal thread that keeps things interesting from the first sip to the last.

Tannins are fine and dusty, sitting just behind the fruit rather than in front of it, and the acidity is firmer than Nero d'Avola's reputation might suggest. The texture is supple and unforced, and the finish is medium in length, drying gently and leaving that savoury Sicilian herb note behind.

Serve it at around 16 degrees, a touch below room temperature, and give it twenty minutes in the glass or a short decant. It suits eggplant parmigiana, pork sausages with fennel seed, a rich tomato ragù, or grilled lamb with rosemary. The Kerasos Nero d'Avola 2023 is drinking well now and should hold comfortably through to about 2028.