On the Road with the Grape Guy
DonnaFugata Podcast Tie-in – The Wines
02 Mar 2025- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(March 2024) ... Jose Rallo, of Donnafugata, a Sicilian winery, came to town to host a lunch and kick off the launch of her new wines. We spoke to her in this podcast, so if you want to know more about the winery, click here. As for the wines tasted at lunch – see reviews below:
DonnaFugata 2023 Rosa - Dolce & Gabbana 
Let’s forego the price and just talk about the wine: fresh and fruity, which is a good thing for a rose. (*** ½)
DonnaFugata 2022 Anthilia
Grapefruit pulp and pith, nice acidity, pleasant floral component and there’s nice length on the finish. (*** ½+)
DonnaFugata 2021 Sedara
Smoky with notes of blackberry plus subtle tannins and a finish that doles out some cassis. (*** ½+)
DonnaFugata 2020 Tancredi
Lots of dark fruit and mocha – a pleasing red. (*** ½+)
DonnaFugata 2019 Mille e Una Notte
A thousand and one nights has a smooth, silky palate with mocha, black fruit, rugged tannins and a finish that goes on for days. This wine is made for the long haul. Keep some in the cellar for those Arabian movie nights. (****)
DonnaFugata 2022 Ben Rye
Cereal note, along with honey and apricot, creamy and smooth across the palate with a lovely long finish. (****)
DonnaFugata 2019 Sparkling
Chardonnay / Pinot Noir ... Acidity is a little muted, but the palate shows nice biscuity and Bosc pear with some pleasant citrus backing - more than I expected from a Sicilian bottle of bubbles. (*** ½+)
DonnaFugata 2020 Mille e Una Notte
The newer version of 1001 is approachable now, but has the stuffing to last years in the cellar: lots of dark cherry and cassis, while tannins coat the mouth. (****+)
