The Grotte Alte Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG 2019 by Occhipinti is the most noble expression of the indigenous grape varieties Frappato and Nero d'Avola from southern Sicily. Arianna Occhipinti combines Mediterranean freshness with expressive finesse in this top red wine.
57,50 €76,67 € / l
Incl. VAT where applicable
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Bottler: Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti, Via dei Mille 55, 97019 Vittoria / Italy
In the glass
Colour
Dark garnet red with a black core.
Nose
Red-berried fruit of cherries, raspberries and mulberries, interwoven with ethereal notes of orange blossom, cedar, vetiver and ripe stone fruit.
Palate
Silky and elegant with fine, tightly-knit tannins, notes of red vineyard peach, orange zest and Mediterranean macchia, alongside a remarkably long finish.
Character
A subtle, quiet yet multifaceted red wine of understated grandeur that prioritises origin and freshness over mere power.
Pairing
Aubergine involtini with mozzarella in tomato sauce, pan-fried red mullet in a bouillabaisse broth or slow-roasted kid goat from the oven.
Notes
Sicily's only DOCG wine, crafted from approximately 40-year-old bush-trained vines on limestone-rich soils, aged for over four years in large oak casks.
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
A dark garnet red, supported in the glass by an almost black core.
Nose
The initial aromas already possess something sacred and sublime. Dense red fruit notes of cherries, raspberries and mulberries oscillate between ripe concentration and a youthful acidic drive. Above these hover ethereal nuances of orange blossom, fine cedar, vetiver and juicy stone fruit.
Palate
On the palate, it reveals an almost cathedral-like dimension: silky, elegant and immensely complex. Notes of red vineyard peach and orange zest combine with hints of Mediterranean macchia. The tannins present themselves fine, tightly knit and almost dusty on the edge of the tongue – a masterful interplay of southern warmth and quiet, focused structure.
Finish
A powerful, orchestral finale with impressive, hard-to-quantify length that lingers effortlessly without loud showmanship.
Terroir & Origin
The vines for this Cerasuolo di Vittoria – Sicily’s only DOCG appellation – grow on the limestone-dominated ridges around Vittoria at about 280 metres altitude. Arianna Occhipinti’s radical credo: not a single drop of irrigation water feeds these parcels. Set upon soils of sand, clay and limestone, the terroir defies the heat and owes its freshness to the cooling winds of the Iblei Mountains.
Grape Variety & Vinification
A blend of equal parts Frappato and Nero d’Avola from around 40-year-old vines. Following a 30-day spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in neutral concrete, the wine matures for four years in large 50-hectolitre wooden casks, as well as a further four months in the bottle. This slow process is part of Occhipinti’s uncompromising biodynamic approach.
Food Pairings
Excellent with baked aubergine involtini with mozzarella in tomato sauce, braised Portuguese kid goat with Massa de Pimentão or pan-fried red mullet in a bouillabaisse broth on salt cod purée.
Particularities
The Grotte Alte is considered the winemaker’s most ambitious creation. It convincingly proves that Sicily’s qualitative pinnacle is not defined by powerful over-extraction, but by aristocratic finesse and unvarnished authenticity.
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