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Structure
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 in the header is our own.
In the glass
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
-
Grilled Sicilian black pig (Suino Nero)
The Bordeaux structure in Tancredi brings out the richness of island pork. -
Braised veal with herbs
Cedar and tobacco notes complement white meat braised with aromatic herbs. -
Mature Sicilian provolone
Structured tannin and dark fruit meet the sharpness of aged cow's-milk cheese.
How to serve Donnafugata Tancredi
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- 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.
- 1990: First 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.
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