Zisola has two vineyards with alberello, or bush-trained, Nero d’Avola vines that were planted next to one another back in 2005. With fruit from those sites, the 2019 Sicilia Noto Rosso Doppiozeta is a different wine from past editions thanks to tweaks in winemaking that are meant to underline elegance and to respect the territory (including phasing in new and different oak barrels for finer tannins), proprietor Filippo Mazzei explains. Harvest is earlier to obtain fruit freshness, and the wine sees an easy 20 days of skin contact. This vintage shows lots of pretty primary freshness, tart cherry, spice and crushed stone.

With fruit from old bush-trained vines, the 2018 Sicilia Noto Rosso Doppiozeta is sweet and slightly jammy with blackberry preserves and black cherry confit. The wine spreads heavily over the palate with thick fruit weight and substantial texture. The tannins are soft, but this wine really shows the heat of the vintage and the relentless sunshine of Sicily.

From the Mazzei family of Tuscany, the Zisola 2017 Sicilia Noto Rosso Doppiozeta is a pure expression of Sicily's native Nero d'Avola from old, head-pruned vines. Fruit comes from three sites: Piscina, Sopra Navel and Mandorleto with southeast exposures. The wine shows gentle elegance and a fine natural balance that is not easy to achieve, given the very hot and sunny conditions that characterize winemaking at the center of the Mediterranean, especially in the hot 2017 vintage. The bouquet reveals dark fruit, dried currant, scorched earth and a hint of black olive. The mouthfeel is mid-weight in delivery. About 13,800 bottles were made.

The 2015 Noto Rosso Doppiozeta is a pure expression of Nero d'Avola from alberello vines. The wine's name "double z" (or doppiozeta) refers to the two z's in the Mazzei family name. In the past, this wine was blended with Syrah, but this vintage appears to be a pure expression of the Sicilian grape. This is a soft and forthcoming red wine with plump flavors of cherry and blackberry. This vintage is simple, easy-drinking and charming with a stripped-down personality and moderate intensity on the close. The oak regime is more sophisticated here. The wine ages in barrique (with 50% new oak) for 16 months. Some 13,000 bottles were made.

Nero d'Avola is blended with Syrah to make the 2013 Noto Rosso Doppiozeta. The vines are alberello or bush-trained, planted in red soils. Candied cherry and rum cake appear on the bouquet. Beyond those dark fruit layers is a savory presence of exotic spice, leather and moist chewing tobacco. This is a plump, ripe and modern red from Sicily that offers generous abundance and juiciness.