Bottler: Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti, Via dei Mille 55, 97019 Vittoria / Italy
In the glass
Colour
Luminous cherry red with radiant nuances
Nose
Sour cherry, raspberry and wild blackberry, backed by forest floor, juniper as well as ethereal rosemary, thyme and pine
Palate
Taut, linear and slender with fine-grained tannins, invigorating acidity and a herbal spicy finish
Character
Subtle, cool and captivatingly austere – an elegant Frappato that feels reminiscent of a cooler growing region
Pairing
Roasted quail with wild herbs, braised lamb shank or pasta alla Norma with ricotta salata
Notes
Aged for 20 months in concrete tanks and crafted from 70-year-old vines in a dry-farmed single vineyard with red sand and tuff rock
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
Luminous cherry red with bright, radiant highlights.
Nose
An aristocratic, quiet entry full of remarkable tension. The bouquet combines freshness with fine spice: sour cherry, Morello cherry, a touch of raspberry and slightly underripe blackberries, which introduce a tart, green nuance. In the background, cool, stony elements emerge, paired with forest floor, juniper, allspice, rosemary and the ethereal notes of a Sicilian pine grove.
Palate
On the palate, this Frappato presents a fine-grained structure and a taut, crisp acidity. Despite the Sicilian heat, the backbone is almost reminiscent of a cooler winegrowing region: austere, straightforward and immensely stimulating. The gripping tannic structure gives the elegant fruit a refined edge, while ethereal herbal nuances leave a lively freshness.
Terroir & Origin
The single vineyard site Contrada Pettineo near Vittoria lies just under 200 metres above sea level. The soil is defined by red sand over chalky tufa rock. Arianna Occhipinti works here in an uncompromisingly natural manner and refrains entirely from artificial irrigation, even in the Sicilian summer heat.
Grape Variety & Vinification
Varietal Frappato from roughly 70-year-old vines. Hand-harvested at the end of September 2022, fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts in cement tanks with a 20-day maceration period. Maturation extends over 20 months in oval 20-hectolitre cement tanks. The wine has a moderate 12.0% ABV and is dry.
Particularities
A fascinating single-vineyard wine with extraordinary transparency and energetic drive. The parcel features a unique layout: the previous owner once chose a central old tree as a visual landmark to align the rows of vines.
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