Passo Nero IGT Rosso Passito Sicilia 2021 500ml

Arianna Occhipinti's estate currently covers around 22 hectares in the Bombolieri, Pettineo and Bastonaca districts. The grape varieties include Frappato, Nero d'Avola as well as the white Zibbibo and Albanello. The "Fossa di Lupo" winery is located directly on one of the oldest wine roads on the island, the Strada Provinciale 68, after which its SP68 wines, which now enjoy international cult status, are named.

Passo Nero originates from the idea that life with nature and the vine could accompany it not only until the grape is ripe, but also until it is overripe and dry. This red sweet wine is made from 100% Nero d'Avola grapes grown on red sand and sub-Appennine limestone. The average age of the vines for this wine is 15 years with 6500 plants in single stakes per hectare. After manual harvesting in the first two weeks of October, the grapes are dried for a good 15 days to prevent the basic character of the wine from becoming too rich and to preserve the acidity. Spontaneous fermentation with its own yeasts, followed by 30 days of maceration on the skins and 16 months of ageing in 750-litre tonneaux. Bottled unfiltered and unfined and matured for a further six months in the bottle.

Dark garnet red with a violet rim and black centre.

Black cherries, heart cherries, pickled cherries and Kornell cherries outline the core of Passo Nero and pull out all the stops on the cherry keyboard. There are also notes of dark highland chocolate, a hint of citrus in the overtones and, once again, cherry as the final chord. Let's hear it!

The 2021 Passo Nero from Arianna Occhipinti is also outlined by the all-encompassing cherry on the palate, which is clearly outlined by the finely calibrated tannins and the all-accelerating acidity. As if tailor-made, the appearance is disciplined, parted by fine-grained tannins and finely spun acidity. Accurate chord with the drinking flow of a dry red with a fructose-induced higher octane number, which does not detract from the cherry chorus.