Bukkuram “Padre della Vigna” Passito di Pantelleria DOC 2012 500ml – Marco de Bartoli

Wine information

This is the classic among the passitos of Pantelleria. If the temperatures are right, a great sweet wine is made from the Zibibbo grapes. They come from the Contrada Bukkuram from the southwest of the volcanic island. The vines grow in Albarello cultivation on volcanic terrace slopes and are 35 to 50 years old. 50 % are harvested in mid-August and spread out on mats for four weeks to let them dry, the other 50 % are harvested at the beginning of September and fermented together with the dried grapes for up to three months until sweetness and acidity are in harmony. Then the Passito is fermented for 42 months in barriques and another six months in stainless steel. The acidity is 6.5 grams, the sweetness is 194.7 grams, the sulfur is 99 mg/l.

Color

deep gold with amber reflections

Nose

Everything about this great passito is beguiling and complex. The scent of a lukewarm fruit bread with dried apricots, dates and oranges combines with orange-chocolate liqueur, orange zest, espresso, cardamom and nougat. At the same time, the wine does not smell overloaded at all, but fresh, and everything has its place.

Palate

It's no surprise that the sweet yet tart taste silkily lines the entire oral cavity. It's almost like having a coffee set at your trusted Lebanese restaurant. Mocha is part of it, lightly spiced with cardamom, along with a selection of nuts and dried fruits, oranges can be found there and candied ginger. All this is combined in a wine with a perfect acidity running through it. It's great fun in its own right, especially as the steady salty winds of the Mediterranean had moved through the steep slopes here too, leaving an iodiney salty aftertaste that adds to the drinkability. A meditation wine, no question.