I don't know why, but wines grown on Islands have always fascinated me. They seem to be a blend of cultures not quite the same as the countries they belong to. Corsica, Mallorca, Sicily, Sardinia and Crete all make compelling wines that deserve attention. Let's island hop for this week's flight.

Alexakis 2024 Assyrtiko Crete, Greece $20 - The fruit is amply layered with marine salt and minerals, giving the wine a very angular and crisp personality. There are aromas of lemon, pear and star fruit over a lean, fresh close. 

Alcesti 2022 Isola dei Profumi Rosso Sicily, Italy $15 - A blend of Periccone and Nero D'Avola. Bright red fruits, medium bodied, soft tannins and juicy.

Domaine Vetriccie Il Beaute Rouge Corsica, France 2021 $14 - The wine pours a ruby red with slight purple reflections at the rim. On the nose, there's a lively mix of red and dark fruit. Expect aromas of ripe cherries, wild raspberries, and blackberries, with hints of Mediterranean herbs like rosemary and thyme.

Ciello Rosso Nero D'Avola Sicily, Italy 2021 $16 - Ciello Rosso Nero d'Avola Terre Siciliane offers a rich and full-bodied flavour profile. It typically exhibits dark fruit flavours like black cherry and plum, along with hints of spice and savoury notes.

Contini Cananou 2022 di "Sardegna" Sardinia, Italy $19 - Familiar aromatics of blackberry, plum, violets and provençal herbs greet you from the glass. The acidity effortlessly persists on the slightly rich palate with a lovely smooth texture that gently leads to a mildly sweet and herbal tannic finish.

Bonus Wines

Ca'n Verdura Tinto 2023 Mallorca, Spain $24 - 51% Mantonegro / 24% Merlot / 20% Syrah / 4%Monastrell / 1% Callet. This fragrant, Mediterranean red is medium-bodied, with notes of wild red berries, citrus, fresh herbs, and exotic spices. It is fresh and energetic, with excellent texture.

Azienda Agricola Schirru 2022 Vino Arkimia Bianco Sardinia, Italy $27 - 60% Vermentino, 35% Nuragus, 5% Semidano, Malvasia, and other minor, endemic Sardinian varieties. The fruit is hand-harvested, fermented with 24 hours of skin contact in stainless steel. Aged in steel for 11 months on fine lees, unfined, unfiltered. This is a white wine fuller in body with pronounced herbal tones, apple peel, and hints of toasted nuts.

E Custodi Etna Rosso "Aetneus" 2019 Sicily, Italy $38 - A blend of 80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% of Nerello Cappuccio from vines between 90 and 150 years-old planted at 2000ft. on the slopes of Mt. Etna. The 2019 vintage is a stunning reflection of Etna’s raw power and finesse: aromas of red cherry, blood orange, wild herbs, and volcanic ash leap from the glass. The palate is taut and linear, framed by firm, savory tannins and a cool, mineral finish that speaks directly of the lava-rich soils. There's a brightness to the fruit and a wild, smoky edge that make this unmistakably Etna and unmistakably alive.