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The Almanacco del Berebene spotlights wine labels that in general cost less than Lm5 in Malta. These wines are normally the best value for money available.
The Almanacco del Berebene 2004 included the Angimbe and the Benuara as two best value for money wines. For the Angimbe it noted that it was "plesant, clean, fruity and floral aromas. Good structure and full flavour." For the Benuara it said the Nero d'Avola and the Syrah create a fruity red. Soft, juicy and fine tannins."
The Gambero Rosso magazine had this to say about Cusumano:
"Two brothers Diego and Alberto produce top quality wine on their extensive vineyards. This year's tre bicchieri wine was from the indigenous Nero d'Avola grape, Sagana 2002."
Meanwhile, the Wine Spectator magazine included Cusumano among the Smart Buys in its February edition. In fact the Sicilian winery Cusumano was among 50 Great Producers every wine lover should know.
Wine Spectator said Cusumano was a fast-rising producer which delivers distinctive reds and whites. It gave the Angimbe 90 points, and the Cubia and the Benuara 88.
It had this to say on Cusumano:
"It's amazing how quickly a Sicilian winery can establish itself as a serious wine producer. Only a few years ago, Cusumano was selling most of its wine in bulk. But thanks to the hard work of 30-something brothers Alberto and Diego Cusumano, the family-run winery is now bottling delicious wines and quality is improving each year.
Their best wines, whether red or white, combine local grape varieties with international ones. Angimbe is a knockout white with lively character of pineapple and exotic fruit and bright acidity, a blend of Chardonnay and the local white Insolia. Their blend of Nero d'Avola and Syrah, called Benuara, delivers wonderful fruit and well-integrated tannins. The other wines are also done well including whites such as the Chardonnay, called Jale, Cubia, a pure Insolia and Noa, a red blend of Nero d'Avola, Cabarnet and Merlot. All these wines are made from the family's 345 acres of vineyards."
Meanwhile, Robert Parker, the well-known wine critic wrote the following about Cusumano
"The Cusumano family owns 850 acres of vineyards in various parts of Sicily, and obviously has plenty of grapes with which to make their selections. The wines, made with the assistance of consulting winemaker Mario Ronco, a serious and professional talent from Piedmont, are among the most improved of the entire island over the past three years, and this is the best series I have tasted to date. Three white wines are of a certain interest, all intended to be drunk while reasonably young. The 2002 Cuběa, made from the local Insolia grape, features minerals and herbs along with citrus fruit on the nose and a lively, refreshing energy and acidity on the palate. The 2002 Angimbč, Insolia and Chardonnay, is more golden in color, sweeter in its notes of oranges, resin, and sultana grapes on the nose, and white a greater volume and viscosity of flavor. The 2002 Jalč, an oak-aged Chardonnay, is the most burnished gold in color of the three, very ample in aroma with an ambundance of apricot fruit, vanilla, and lemon cream, and manages to successfully combine fullness and freshness in its flavors. The 2002 Sŕgana, Nero d'Avola, adds mint and graphite to the sweet black currant fruit on the nose and shows soft, round, and substantial flaors with plush, melting tannins on its finish. Already drinking well, it should last another three to four years. The 2002 Noŕ, the top of the line wine, reveals some powerful black cherry and blackberry aromas. Long and substained, its polished and supple tannins are supported by a solidity and firmness of texture which indicate that the wine could ast another eight to ten years."
Angimbč 2002 | Sicily | White | 87 |
Cuběa 2002 | Sicily | White | 86 |
Jalč 2002 | Sicily | White | 88 |
Sŕgana 2002 | Sicily | Red | 89 |
Noŕ 2002 | Sicily | Red | 90 |
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