Nocera is one of the lesser-known indigenous grapes found on the northern corner of the island of Sicily, where it has been cultivated since ancient Roman times, but it has been largely supplanted by more common Italian and international varieties better resistant to disease. This offering of about 13,000 bottles is a great introduction to this storied grape. The Planeta 2019 Sicilia Nocera offers a very silky and smooth personality, showing tight and nicely focused aromas of wild berry, cassis, wild plum and fresh rose. This is a lean to mid-weight expression that would pair with veal involtini.

The 2017 Sicilia Nocera offers a faithful portrait of this little-known indigenous grape from the northern corner of Sicily. The bouquet is rather neutral in presentation with dark fruit, cassis and sweet garden herb. The wine offers mild structure and easy tannins, but there is enough fruity freshness here to pair with breaded veal chops.

The 2016 Sicilia Nocera is an exciting project that explores the rich genetic patrimony of Sicilian viticulture. The Nocera grape is not widely planted, and this is probably the only monovarietal expression you can easily find in overseas wine distribution. Wild cherry and red currant emerge from the bouquet. There are distant elements of the wine—like those sweet aromas—that recall a warm-climate Pinot Noir. Floral notes of dried lavender and almond blossom also appear. This is a lean red wine with moderate persistence and an easy finish. I love the textured paper label too.

From Planeta's new (and absolutely stunning) vineyard on the Capo Milazzo promontory that overlooks a shimmering blue sea comes the 2015 Sicilia Nocera. Nocera is an indigenous grape found in the northern part of Sicily and there are few few wineries that produce it as a mono-variety wine. These grapes live in terrestrial paradise and that smug but very happy realization has been made abundantly clear in the high quality of this exciting new Sicilian wine. It offers dark cherry and red currant aromas with pretty tones of dried flower and herb at the back. There are no rough edges here.