Arianna Occhipinti Vino di Contrada SM 2020

This wine definitely needed some time to develop. If my information is correct, it's a gorgeous result considering the vines are so young. Bruised apples, spices, bakery, white flowers, apricots, gouache and kerosine lamp. The tannin is quite powerful, yet the wine is balanced and delicious. I would still hide this bottle for one or two years more.

One of the newest additions to Arianna's portfolio. A 100% Grillo from a 2 ha plot in Santa Margherita contrada (district). The vines are young (around 5 years old) and grow on whitish calcareous-sandy marl alternating with yellowish-white sands and calcarenites. Destemming, maceration on the skins for 48 hours and spontaneous fermentation in concrete vats and Austrian oak barrels. Racking, end of fermentation and ageing in the same containers for 12 months.

It is not permitted to place contrada (district) names on Sicilian wine labels, so Arianna figured a clever way around the rules. Each contrada is represented by a two-letter abbreviation cheekily struck through with a line to emphasize their illicitness. SM stands for Santa Margherita, BB - for Bomboliere, PT - for Pettineo and FL - for Fossa di Lupo.

First vintage of new white by A. Occhipinti. More delicate than SP68 Bianco, clean with beautiful mineral bouquet. Salt, vanilla, ginger, crème brûlée. Hot and straightforward palate with flavours of ginger and apple. Long nutty aftertaste. Has energy, needs to be retasted in the future.

Vino di Contrada SM

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