Profile

Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninfirm
Aciditymedium
Sweetnessdry
Oakbarrel aged

Drinking window

Best 4 to 14 years from vintage.

vintage4 yrs14 yrs16 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating above is our own.

In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninMedium acidityDryLong, Cedar-Mineral finish

Aroma: blackcurrant, dark cherry, cedar, tobacco

Palate: dark fruit, structured tannin, cedar, warm mineral

Tancredi blends the warmth of Nero d'Avola with Cabernet Sauvignon's structural backbone, producing a Sicilian-Bordeaux hybrid with cedar-cedar depth and concentrated fruit aged gracefully in French barriques.

What it pairs with

With cheese

Pecorino Siciliano Our pick Aged Pecorino Siciliano is salty, with heat that builds over 4 to 8 months. Full-bodied Sicilian reds, from native blends to Syrah, Cabernet and Petit Verdot, bring the concentration and tannin to stand up to it.

How to serve Donnafugata Tancredi

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Grilled Sicilian black pig (Suino Nero), Braised veal with herbs, Mature Sicilian provolone. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Tancredi was one of the earliest Sicilian wines to blend a native grape (Nero d'Avola) with an international variety (Cabernet Sauvignon). Named for the Visconti film set in Sicily, it predates the Super Tuscan movement's influence on the south and remains Donnafugata's most enduring mid-tier red.

  1. 1990First Tancredi blend from Contessa Entellina estate

Facts

Producer
Donnafugata · visiting guide
Grapes
Nero d'Avola (70%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%)
Classification
Contessa Entellina DOC
Oak
Aged in French barriques, 14 months
ABV
14.0%
Price
EUR 22-32 at retail
Drinking window
4-14 from vintage
First vintage
1990

Frequently asked about Donnafugata Tancredi

What does Donnafugata Tancredi taste like?

On the nose, blackcurrant, dark cherry, cedar, tobacco. On the palate, dark fruit, structured tannin, cedar, warm mineral. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, medium acidity with a long, cedar-mineral finish. Tancredi blends the warmth of Nero d'Avola with Cabernet Sauvignon's structural backbone, producing a Sicilian-Bordeaux hybrid with cedar-cedar depth and concentrated fruit aged gracefully in French barriques.

When should I drink Donnafugata Tancredi?

Drink 4-14 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Donnafugata Tancredi?

Grilled Sicilian black pig (Suino Nero) is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Braised veal with herbs and Mature Sicilian provolone. The Bordeaux structure in Tancredi brings out the richness of island pork.

What grapes are in Donnafugata Tancredi?

The blend is Nero d'Avola (70%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%). The wine is classified as Contessa Entellina DOC.

Tags

cabernet sauvignon dry firm tannin full body iconic medium acid medium term mood bold mood elegant nero d avola occasion dinner party occasion special old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with pork pairs with red meat price trade up still red

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