Sold Out
Marabino

Nero d'Avola 2015

Price: $23.95
Enter your email address below to be notified when this product is back in stock.
Tasting notes

Marabino's version is among the more serious expressions of Nero d'Avola in Noto: dark cherry, dusty earth, dried flowers, and clove, with a firm tannic backbone that holds the 14.5% alcohol in check. The calcareous-clay soils of Contrada Buonivini and native-yeast fermentation give it a savory, place-specific character that separates it from generic Sicilian red blends.

BodyFruitTanninAcidity
Taste profile
Black CherriesEarthCloveDried Flowers
  • Style: Dry, full-bodied red; deep ruby; dark cherry, earth, dried flowers, clove; 14.5% ABV
  • Grapes & Terroir: 100% Nero d'Avola; certified organic and biodynamic; calcareous-clay soils, Contrada Buonivini, Noto, 30-80m elevation
  • Winemaking: Native yeast fermentation; extended skin maceration; 12-month aging in 60hl French oak; no added sulfites
  • Serving: Serve at 62-65F; 30-45 min decant recommended
  • Pairing: Braised lamb, beef stew, wild boar ragu, aged Ragusano, Pecorino Siciliano
  • Similar To: For fans of Syrah and southern Italian reds who want a biodynamic, terroir-driven expression

Marabino sits in Contrada Buonivini, a single rural district in the Noto valley of southeastern Sicily, less than 7km from the sea. The soils here are calcareous and clayey, ranging chromatically from white limestone to black clay, at elevations between 30 and 80 meters above sea level. Pierpaolo Messina has managed the estate since 2008 and converted to biodynamic farming that same year, building on an organic base established when the family founded Natura Iblea in 1996.

This Nero d'Avola is made from 100% estate-grown grapes, hand-harvested from bush-trained vines in Contrada Buonivini. No synthetic chemicals are used in the vineyard or cellar. Fermentation is spontaneous with native yeasts only. After extended maceration on the skins, the wine aged for 12 months in 60-hectoliter French oak barrels. No sulfites are added.

Nero d'Avola is the dominant indigenous red variety of southeastern Sicily, historically centered around the town of Avola in the province of Siracusa. In this corner of the island, the grape produces wines with more structure, dried floral character, and spice complexity than versions grown further west. Marabino's location at the latitude of Noto places it at one of the warmest and sunniest points in Europe, moderated by proximity to both the Ionian Sea and the Sicilian Channel.

The 2015 vintage at 14.5% ABV reflects full physiological ripeness achieved through extended hang time on low-growing bush vines. The wine delivers concentrated dark fruit, earthy undertones, and a firm tannic structure that benefits from decanting before serving.

The tannin and weight here work well against slow-braised lamb, beef stew, or wild boar ragu. Aged Ragusano or Pecorino Siciliano also hold up to the structure. Avoid delicate fish or lightly seasoned dishes — this wine needs food with comparable intensity.

Wine details

Dry/Sweet:, Dry
Wine Type:, Red Wine
Wine Style:, Full Body
Grapes:, Nero d'Avola
Farming:, Organic and Biodynamic
Vintage:, 2015
Alcohol:, 14.5%
Country:, Italy
Region:, Sicily
Appellation:, Noto DOC
Bottle Size:, 750ml
Sugar Level:, Zero Added Sugar

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.


Important Compliance Requirements

FedEx and other carriers we might occasionally use can only deliver wine to customers who are 21 years or older. Someone must be at the address to receive the package, carriers don't just drop a package and leave. They must ensure the person receiving the wine is 21 or older.


Re-shipping a Package

If a package is returned to us after three failed delivery attempts, we can only re-ship the wine upon payment of a re-shipping fee, to be determined based on the shipping address and number of bottles. Shipping wine is extremely expensive. We are sorry about this, but we have no other choice. Please make sure there's always someone at the address you enter as your shipping address.

If you'd like to receive a refund for a package that was returned to us after FedEx made three delivery attempts, we can do that but we must keep a $20 refund fee; FedEx charges us a lot of money for returns, unfortunately, I can't stress this enough.


Re-routing a Package

If you'd like to reroute a package after it's been shipped, we can do so for a $20 re-routing fee. We cannot re-route a package across state borders. For any change of address, please contact us as soon as possible, ideally within 1-2 days from placing the order or we cannot guarantee we'll be able to reroute or change your order's shipping address.


Canceling an Order

If you'd like to cancel an order after it's been shipped, we can do so upon payment of a small cancellation fee – the amount depends on the size of the order. Carriers charge us a lot of money to recall a package en-route.


Heat/Frost damage

We are not responsible for heat- or frost-related issues. We offer ice-packs upon request. Please let us know if you think that there could be heat-related issues. If we don't hear anything from you regarding weather issues before an order is shipped, or if you don't request a hold due to the weather, we are not responsible for heat/frost damage.


Placed an order. What next?

1. You will receive an order confirmation email with your order summary.*

2. As soon as your order ships from the warehouse, usually within 2-3 business days, this applies to all shipping rates, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with your tracking information. 2DAY shipping refers to shipping time; we still need 2-3 business days to prepare an order. We need to pick and pack, QA, add printed collateral, and palletize the orders.

3. Please track your package using the tracking service.

4. The carrier will attempt delivery a maximum of 3 times. After 3 delivery attempts, your package will be sent back to our warehouse.**

*Please ensure your email address is correct; otherwise, you will not receive the order and shipping confirmation emails.

**If delivery is attempted 3 times without success, or if you fail to retrieve your package from the carrier depot by the stated deadline, the shipping fee will not be refunded to the customer.

Returns Policy

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us at (424) 414-2040 or via e-mail at hello@primalwine.com between 9 am and 5 pm Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Sunday, we would like to understand and try to solve your concerns. We can offer refunds only as store credit.

Producer profile

Marabino

Marabino was established in 2002 as a division of Natura Iblea, an organic fruit and vegetable business founded by the Messina family in 1996. In the early years, the estate owned vineyards but relied on outside facilities for winemaking. The cellar at Contrada Buonivini was completed in 2007. Pierpaolo Messina took over management in 2008 after studying in Siena, where he was introduced to biodynamic farming practices.

All 30 hectares of vineyards are located within Contrada Buonivini in the Noto valley, and no grapes or wine are purchased from third parties. The estate has practiced biodynamic agriculture since 2008, using preparations including horn manure and horn silica. The operation is certified organic. Soils are calcareous and clayey, ranging from white limestone to black clay, at 30 to 80 meters elevation, with the sea less than 7 kilometers away. Vines are grown as low bush-trained alberello plants, which shade the fruit and help maintain cooler temperatures during the Scirocco.

Fermentation uses only native yeasts with no additions of oenological products or sulfites. The standard Nero d'Avola undergoes extended maceration on the skins and aged 12 months in 60-hectoliter French oak barrels. Grapes are hand-harvested, typically from mid-September through October, to achieve full physiological ripeness. The winery focuses exclusively on the two indigenous varieties of the territory: Nero d'Avola and Moscato Bianco.

Wine region

Sicily, Italy

Southeastern Sicily, specifically the province of Siracusa, is the heartland of Nero d'Avola. The Noto DOC and Eloro DOC cover the communes of Noto, Pachino, Portopalo di Capo Passero, and Rosolini, along with Ispica in the Ragusa province. This is Sicily's most southerly wine zone, sitting at approximately 36 degrees north latitude, below the northernmost point of Africa. The climate is hot and arid in summer, with some of the highest average temperatures on the island, moderated by coastal breezes from both the Ionian Sea and the Sicilian Channel.

Soils in this zone are predominantly calcareous limestone and clay, which contribute acidity retention and mineral structure to the wines. Eloro DOC, granted in 1994, covers red and rose wines based on Nero d'Avola, Frappato, and Perricone. The Pachino subzone requires a minimum of 80% Nero d'Avola. Noto DOC is separately recognized for Nero d'Avola and Moscato Bianco. Wines from the southeastern corner of Sicily tend to show more complexity, dried floral notes, and spice than Nero d'Avola produced further west, where the style is generally fruitier and broader.

Frequently asked question

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.

Signature on delivery is mandatory for wine deliveries. Please make sure someone is at the shipping address to sign for the package.

If applicable, please consider delivering the package to a business address to ensure someone is available to sign for the package.

We also have the option of delivering the package to a Carrier's store for pickup. Please reach out to us to coordinate.

Carrier will try to delivery a package up to three times before returning the package to us.

See here our shipping policy.

If you miss a delivery and a package gets returned to us we have two options:

1) Reship the package right away: due to the very high cost of shipping and returns, we must charge a re-shipping fee to be determined based on package size and shipping destination.

2) Consolidate the returned package with your next order: this option is free of charge and it's the most popular option.

See here our shipping policy.

This collection features our best selling natural wine from all around the world. It's the best place to start you natural wine journey! Browse one of the largest selections of natural wine available online in the United States.

Primal Wine Natural Wine Club is the best way to discover natural wine. Let us do the heavy-lifting, sit back, and relax. We will send you an ever-changing selection of natural wine made by top producers from around the world.

Our customers love Primal

I'm just copying and pasting from the hundreds messages we received, no pseudo reviews!
Erin C.

We love our membership so far and can't wait until our next shipment.

Jennifer B.

A note to say that we are loving the tasting notes sheet you’re sending!

James S.

I'm really happy to find Primal – your selections are terrific. 

Samuel M.

Love your company, always a great wine selection. 

Chelsea V.

I love what you guys do!

What Is | Primal Wine

What is natural wine?

Natural wine is a type of wine made in small batches from organic or biodynamic grapes with minimal intervention.
What Is Biodynamic Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is Biodynamics?

Biodynamic wine is wine made from grapes farmed biodynamically. Biodynamic farming is a holistic approach.
What Is Organic Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is organic wine?

Organic wine is made with grapes farmed organically. Organic farming is an alternative to conventional farming.
What Is Vegan Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is vegan wine?

Vegan wine is wine made without using animal products during the fining phase of the clarification process.