VINI d'ITALIA 2011 - Le guide dell'Espresso

In the hills above Messina the Scarfone familyis passionately dedicated to tending their small vineyard facing two seas, Thyrrenian and Ionian. The natural approach both in the vineyard and in the cellar gives us wines of dynamic character and contagious drinkability.

5 Bottiglie - The 2008 Faro has a bright juiciness that seems like a small Vosne-Romanee. Inviting aromatic profile, herbs and wet earth, light but well defined and harmonious, simple only on the surface. It reveals a Bourgogne-like grace that does not tire one of drinking.

INTRAVINO  January 2010

We were struck by the Faro 2007: more rich, concentrated, alcoholic then the 2006 but with the same fresh and savory nerve. Giovanni Scarfone’s mission is simple: to work following his own path without trying to camouflage the difference between each harvest, to tell the straight story of its territory without any technical manipulation. Tradition is the keyword, both in the vineyard and the cellar, meant as a natural and respectful approach to the environment.  

LUCIANO PIGNATARO July 2009

After the success of his first vintage bottled, 2006,  the 2007 is of an intense ruby red, with wild aromas and perfumes of ripe cherry, oranges, Mediterrean brush, spices of a well integrated wood that turn into coffee and slightly burnt biscotti. On the palate elegance is the key factor, soft and dynamic. Time will endow it with complexity and develop further its finish of balsamic herbs. The alcohol from the hot vintage is perfectly integrated. From vineyards where no chemicals are used but only natural, organic methods. Indigenous yeasts, long maceration. Only 3500 bottles produced, hurry, it is a bottle to keep and drink as often as possible with dinner where it finds its ideal expression.  

LAVINUM October 2009

As a wine writer tasting thousands of bottles one runs the risk of trading enthusiasm for rationality. On occasion this risk is bluntly interrupted by running into an unexpected and stimulating encounter. You may think I am exaggerating or wonder what does Bonavita’s Faro possess that makes it so special. You have to try it to believe me. The wine world only know Faro thanks to the exceptional wines of Palari, so different from other powerful and huge Sicilian wines.  There is now a new name to follow in that pocket of land that makes the Faro DOC. Bonavita’s wine cannot be only described technically, it has to be drunk, paired with food, sipped slowly in order to perceive its nuances.

It is the perfect interpretation of its terroir, elegant, clean, pure, without make-up, thrilling at moments, with tannins that don’t hide behind an easy softness and important acidity that exalts its character and the aromatic character. With such a small production a warning to the readers: hurry up, it is well worth it, because I assure that we’ll hear more about Bonavita.