Grappoli del Grillo Sicilia Grillo DOC 2023

Wine Description for Grappoli del Grillo Sicilia Grillo DOC 2023 by Marco de Bartoli

Colour & Appearance

Luminous golden yellow with brilliant, lemon-coloured reflexes – a wine that already promises sun and the Mediterranean in the glass.

Nose

An aromatic fireworks display that brings the Mediterranean maquis vividly to life: rosemary, thyme, sage and bay leaf meet linden blossom and elderwood. Beneath these unfold ripe fruit aromas of orange, honeydew melon and pear, elegantly underpinned by vanilla and star anise – a result of sensitive barrique ageing.

Palate

Here the true Sicilian personality reveals itself: knife-sharp in its minerality, salty like a sea breeze, with an acidity that refreshes and enlivens. Twelve months in barrique have given the wine substance without dampening its vibrant freshness. Fine bitter notes in the finish lend complexity and drinkability.

Finish

Long, saline-mineral and with an invigorating bitterness that demands the next sip. The herbal aromas fade elegantly.

Terroir & Origin

The twenty-year-old Grillo vines are rooted in the Contrade of Samperi and Marsala in western Sicily, where limestone and sandy loam give the wine its characteristic minerality. Marco de Bartoli, an icon of Sicilian winemaking, has the gift of authentically interpreting this unique terroir.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Hand-picked Grillo grapes are gently pressed and fermented cool for 48 hours with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel. The subsequent twelve-month ageing in French barriques with regular bâtonnage lends the wine texture and depth without obscuring its aromatic precision.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Perfect with grilled swordfish, spaghetti alle vongole, pan-fried scallops or risotto with lemon and herbs. Also an excellent choice with roasted vegetables in olive oil or creamy goat’s cheese preparations.

Special Features

A Grillo of extraordinary complexity that proves this Sicilian grape variety can do far more than uncomplicated summer wines. The combination of Mediterranean aromatics, saline minerality and fine wood ageing makes this wine a distinctive statement.