Again from the Contrada San Nicola vineyard outside the village of Mazara del Vallo in western Sicily, we find Nero d’Avola vines tended to by the ever thoughtful Sala sisters. The vines are just 15 years old on average but the wine is ever complex. While some Nero d’Avola wines can be on the dense and fruity side, the Sala sisters and the terroir make this wine a somewhat translucent red with bright acidity, tension, and elegant fruit. As someone who loves Burgundy, this is the style of wine that makes my mouth water.
Wine Description
Vintage Notes:
2024: This vintage will be reminded as the year in which the lowest total rainfall over a 12-year period was reached. Due to a particularly warmness and rainless winter and spring, the harvest began a record 12-15 days earlier than average, third decade of July. We recorded a drop yields, which particularly affected the reds. Despite the reduction in quantities, it is a promising year for the resulting wines. All the native varieties, in particular Mero d’Avola, demonstrated their resilience in overcoming environmental stress.
2023: It was the most challeging vintage in recent years. Characterized by a rainy sping that created a little risk of fungal disseases on the plants, followed by one of the hottest summers. Despite this, it will be a year to remember for the high quality of the wines produced. Our area benefited from its proximity to the sea, which allowed temperatures to remain reasonable during the hottest days. The red grapes benefited from the heat, yielding excellent polyphenol potential for wines of great structure and longevity, especially for Nero d’Avola.
2020: Vintage quantites were more in the line with previous years. In terms of quality, a very good year thanks to the climate. There was a consistent spring-summer period, with late rains in spring and temperatures above average in June-July. In the first weeks of August, greater temperature variation between day and night allowed the grapes to preserve excellent acidity and to enhance their aromas.
2019: In terms of quantity, one of the least productive vintages of the decade, due to adverse weather conditions during the spring season. Quality however remained high.
Sicilia Rosso:
Signora Dora, great-grandmother of Annamaria and Clara Sala, purchased this land, 130 hectares which she considered paradise, in the beginning of the 1900s. The winery was named “Tenuta Gorghi Tondi” in 2006, representing the strong bond with the territory, adjacent to 3 rounded lakes (the so called “Gorghi Tondi” – a WWF protected site and bird sanctuary). An environment deeply characterized by the sea, karst depressions, and clean energy to protect biodiversity, the winery bans all synthetic chemicals and genetically modified organisms, according to the requirements of the strictest standards of organic agriculture. The cellar is located inside a traditional “baglio” in perfect harmony with the vineyards and the surrounding natural context.
Nero d’Avola, the black grape of Avola, has been cultivated in Siclia since the Greeks brought the plants in the 8th century BC. The land where Nero d’Avola grows is characterized by clayey soil, well suited to black varieties and to wines with a more robust structure. This vineyard is very close to the sea, bringing sea breezes to the grapes and saline minerality to the wine. Manual harvest normally takes place in the second and third weeks of September. After a fermentation in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature and a maceration of minimum two weeks, the wine is aged on the lees for 3-4 months more before bottling.
As with all of our wines, this one captures the true terroir of Sicily and is not blended with international varietals nor oaked. Aging is potential 8-10 years, but it is delightful fresh and young.
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