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Inycon

The Inycon wines are produced in Sicily by the Settesoli Co-operative, as a joint venture with UK importer Enotria, and are named after the ancient Greek name for the town of Menfi, Inycon, which is also the name of the local wine festival. This is a formidable co-operative, with over 2300 members who own over 6000 hectares of vineyards. Unsurprisingly, with such a huge membership, the co-operative has access to a wide range of varieties, including traditional local grapes such as Grecanico and Nero d'Avola, as well as large plantings of international varieties such as Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

Enotria winemaker naturally has a huge and diverse array of fruit at his disposal, and what the growers provide is fashioned by him and the Settesoli team into four broad portfolios. First up is the Vineyard Selection, comprising three cuvées, a Shiraz, a Chardonnay-Pinot Grigio and a Rosé made from Nerello Mascalese and Nero d'Avola, then followed by the Growers' Selection, varietal wines and blends using the fruit of both international and indiginous vines, everything from Chardonnay and Shiraz to Nero d'Avola and Inzolia. There is also an Organic Selection, but the top cuvées are the President's Selection, again with a diverse choice incorporating both local and foreign varieties. (30/10/01, updated 27/5/10)

Contact details:
Address: SS 115, 92013 Menfi
Telephone: +39 0925 77111
Fax: +39 0925 77142
Internet: www.cantinesettesoli.it

Inycon - Tasting Notes

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Inycon Vineyard Selection Chardonnay Pinot Grigio 2009: Under screwcap. This has more restrained fruit than the other two wines, showing a peach and stone fruit character, soft and polished, with a touch of lanolin. The palate is clean, tinged with vanilla and also slightly confected banana. Well integrated towards the finish though, which is rather fat but well framed. Grippy and slightly crunchy finish. From a tasting of Inycon wines. 14.5/20 (May 2010)

Inycon Growers' Selection Fiano 2009: Under screwcap. Fresh and bright hue, tinged with green. Really open and expressive nose, full of fresh fruit; scented pears at first, then more tropical, with notes of honeydew melon and bitter peach skin. A good presence on the palate, fleshy with a little fat to it but also with some good grip giving the wine some delineation. Polished slightly bitter - in a good way - and rather solid substance in the mouth. Nice gentle acidity sitting behind it all. Most importantly, it has freshness and decent lines. Good. From a tasting of Inycon wines. 15.5/20 (May 2010)

Inycon President's Selection Chardonnay 2009: Under screwcap. Slightly fat tropical fruits on the nose, with notes of honeydew melon and passion fruit, all very sweet and ripe. The palate has a fat and rather broad texture, underpinned by some slightly bitter grip. A moderate concentration, nicely fresh acidity, although with a rather firm shell to the fruit. A bitter grip in the finish. Overall soft and plump fruit with a firm and somewhat raw structure in the finish. From a tasting of Inycon wines. 14/20 (May 2010)

Inycon Vineyard Selection Shiraz 2008: Under screwcap. A less vibrant hue than the Nero d'Avola blend, this has a more reticent nose of plum tinged with chocolate and charcoal. Quite nicely texture in the front and midpalate, soft edges, although a touch more spiky towards the finish, certainly raw and peppery right in the end. Very straightforward through the middle, although with some brightness and acidity. It lacks character and has some rustic heat on the finish. From a tasting of Inycon wines. 14/20 (May 2010)

Inycon Growers' Selection Nero d'Avola Frappato 2008: Under screwcap. A dark core, but a vibrant pink rim with decent concentration. The nose has some attractive elements with suggestions of squashed raspberry, cherry and plum, set off by a sweet and scented edge. Nicely textured on the start although with a cooler structure behind, as well as some ripe tannins which maintain quite a soft feel throughout. Moderate acidity, some grip behind the flesh, fun and frivolous if rather raw in the finish, a decent wine here! From a tasting of Inycon wines. 15.5/20 (May 2010)

Inycon President's Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2008: Under screwcap. Less concentration here. The nose carries some berry fruit aromas with a sweet, slightly confected edge. It seems a touch burnt and charcoaly too. Gently textured on the palate, fairly sweet in style, at the front it seems nicely composed, fairly gentle and restrained, but towards the finish it becomes less well appointed, and displays a lot of raw heat and spiky texture. From a tasting of Inycon wines. 12/20 (May 2010)

Inycon Fiano 2002: A nice mid-golden colour. The nose is lovely, full of pears and stone fruits, with a bare, tropical edge, notes of Mediterranean herbs and sea salt. Quite full and rounded on entry, although like all wines it is sensitive to serving temperature - served a little too cool it seemed thin and hollow on the palate. Stony, slightly fat, peachy fruit, with good texture. Plenty of grip, with a very dry, pine kernel infused finish. Delicious stuff, and great value for money. 16/20 (September 2003)

Inycon Chardonnay 2000: A pleasing wine which offers up some fresh and lively tropical fruit aromas, with a honeyed, buttery edge. There is a lovely texture on entry, although overall the wine is quite light and balanced. There is more tropical fruit, lifted by an undercurrent of zippy acidity. The only fault is a bitter astringency that quickly comes to dominate the endpalate and finish, but otherwise this is a good example of cold fermented Chardonnay. 14/20 (October 2001)

Inycon Merlot 2000: A fairly deep red colour here. On the nose, some worrisome aromas of raisined fruit dominate, later developing sweet confection and candy notes, rather like a flat cola drink. Similar confected flavours, with more raisined fruit, on the palate. Despite the sweetness on the nose it is fairly dry, with a chalky sensation to the tannins and some slightly harsh acidity. But it is the raisined fruit that seems most prominent. This is awful stuff. 11/20 (October 2001)

Inycon Syrah 2000: A rich and dark colour, and I'm hopeful that this may be a little more drinkable, but my hopes are dashed. This proves to be an equally convincing example of bad winemaking as the Merlot. The nose brings to mind liquid raisins, with perhaps a coating of chocolate. On the palate, a full body and soft texture can do nothing to appease the flavour of raisins, raisins and more raisins. It's only saving grace is that it has none of the candy and cola flavours of the Merlot. I've never had a wine which has been so obviously made from poor fruit, raisined either in the vineyard, or as the handpicked fruit sat in the hot Mediterranean sun awaiting vinification. What a shame. 11/20 (October 2001)