Vecchio Samperi

Wine Description for Vecchio Samperi by Marco de Bartoli

Colour & Appearance

Deep, luminous amber – a colour that speaks of depth, time and craftsmanship even before the first sip.

Nose

The nose is simply stunning: dried stone fruit meets fresh citrus, unripe walnuts join a seductive hazelnut-fruit tart. A delicate, almost tender sweetness winds through the austere nut aromas and lends the whole an elegant balance that is hard to match.

Palate

On the palate, Vecchio Samperi unfolds with impressive fullness – yet the acidity cuts through the aromatic thicket like a machete: precise, relentless, invigorating. Dried fruit, nuts, a hint of buttered baked dough – and then the orange peel, more intense than on the nose, almost provocatively present.

Finish

Long, dense, unwavering. The orange notes carry the wine into a distinctive, lingering finish that remains in the memory minutes after the last sip. For those seeking comparisons: an excellent Sercial from Madeira or a great Amontillado from Jerez would come close – but would still have to stretch themselves.

Terroir & Origin

Vecchio Samperi comes from Contrada Samperi, a limestone-rich vineyard of twelve hectares near Marsala in western Sicily. The terroir is sparse and demanding – ideal for Grillo, which develops its inimitable depth here.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Grillo from vines aged 20 to 42 years in traditional Albarello training, harvested at a yield of only 20 hl/ha. Fermentation takes place slowly at room temperature in open vats of oak and walnut wood. The wine then matures in a Perpetuum (Solera system) that has been continuously maintained since 1980 – 5% is drawn off and 5% topped up annually. No vintage, no rush. Only time and skill.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Vecchio Samperi demands dishes with character: Ruota di Pesce Spada – swordfish steak with chilli flakes and lemon – perfectly mirrors its Sicilian soul. Equally convincing: Gratinéed oysters or a mature Pecorino with pepper and nuts, which wonderfully complements the wine’s nutty complexity.

Special Features

Vecchio Samperi was the first wine Marco de Bartoli ever bottled – and it remains his legacy. Without fortification, without compromise. An oxidatively aged wine that shows what Sicily can achieve when given time. With merely 8 mg/l sulphur, it is also a prime example of minimal intervention with maximum expressiveness.