Caruso & Minini Inzolia Terre di Giumara IGT Sicilia Italy

Caruso & Minini Inzolia Terre di Giumara IGT Sicilia Italy

Caruso & Minini is a winery located in Marsala, the most western coastal city of Sicilia, where Marsala wines are produced.

While the city's natives sometimes drink "vintage" Marsala, the wine produced for export is universally a fortified wine similar to Port. Originally, Marsala wine was fortified with alcohol to ensure that it would last long ocean voyages, but this tradition survived and continued because of its popularity in foreign markets.

Traditional Marsala is mainly produced using the Grillo, Inzolia, and Catarratto white grape varietals, among others. Slightly off dry or very sweet, Marsala wines were traditionally served as an aperitif or as a break between the first and second courses of a meal, but have also been used in cooking. They are also great with cheeses and chocolate, and make a great digestif too.

However, non-fortified still wines also exist in the region of Marsala and are produced with the same grape varieties: Grillo, Inzolia, and Catarratto (among others). By law it can’t be sold bearing the name of Marsala, therefore the non-fortified wines are sold under I.G.T (Indicazione Geografica Tipica). This appellation denotes wines from a more specific region within Italy, which are considered to be of higher quality than simple table wines, but do not conform to the strict wine laws applied in their region of origin. As an example, before the IGT was created in 1992, "Super Tuscan" wines such as Tignanello and Sassicaia were labeled “Vino da Tavola”.

Caruso & Minini is a fairly new project with roots going back more than 100 years ago. Stefano Caruso dreamed it, following into the step of his father Nino, who since the mid 1900s led the family company that was established by his own father, Francesco, and before that, his grandfather, Antonio.

The land chosen by Antonino and his son Francesco turned out to be perfect for the production of high quality grapes particularly desirable to Marsala’s wine establishments. The son of Francesco, Nino, discovered the contribution that the type of soil, altitude and distance from the sea could give to the quality of the grapes produced.

However, it wasn’t until the deal with Mario Minini was sealed that Stefano and Nino decided to launch the project of building the winery. Minini brought over 80 years of experience and maturity in managing and developing the Brescian winery, a determination to achieve the common objective with Caruso: produce wines that can charm and surprise the palate for their originality, character and elegance.

Today, Stefano Caruso leads Terre di Giumara, along with his brothers Francesco and Roberto, and decided to use the name of the family estate for the line of the Caruso & Minini’s single variety of wine. This is a tribute to the work that four generations of vintners have done to improve the quality of the grapes produced.

They possesses a great website (www.carusoeminini.it) that I will recommend you to visit for more info about this high quality oriented winery.

Caruso & Minini now produces a large portfolio of wines divided in 4 different lines: Le Selezioni, Cusora, Tasàri and Terre di Giumara. “Terre di Giumara” line focus mainly on single varietal wines: Grecanico, Nero d’Avola and Inzolia.




2008 Caruso & Minini Inzolia Terre di Giumara IGT Sicilia
Suggested retail place $11-$14
Distributed by Vinifera in NYC

Terre di Giumara is the name of their country estate and the name to their single variety of wines. It renews year after year the indissoluble bond between extraordinary grapes and their unique soil.

The hills of Giumarella, located at 15km east of Marsala, seem to be naturally suitable to the production of extraordinary and unique white grapes. Inzolia, which is characterized by intense and elegant fragrances, is a result of an ancient equilibrium between the strong and generous soil and the vine that thrive in this region.

Behind its pale yellow color with slight green reflects, this Inzolia is bright, lush, fruity and textured with characteristic nutty aromas and fresh notes of citrus and herbs. Slight touches of sea breeze aromas gently transport you to the coast of Sicily. Fairly rich and balanced, enhancing acidity and minerality (even a touch of saltiness... read my previous post on salty wines) bring some complexity to this uncomplicated and gentle white wine. Enjoy with Mediterranean-style fresh fish, seafood or chicken prepared.

Enjoy,

LeDom du Vin

Info partly taken and edited from the winery website at (www.carusoeminini.it)

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2007 Cantine Colosi Sicilia Rosso Giammoro Sicily Italy

2007 Cantine Colosi Rosso Sicilia Giammoro Sicily Italy
Suggested retail price $9-$11
Imported / Distributed bu VIAS imports in NYC

Cantine Colosi is a winery located in the village of Giammoro located west of Messina, on the North eastern shore of Sicily. However, their farm also covers seven hectares in Salina (a small island in the Eolian Archipelago), five of which are already planted with vines, located at Gramignazzi in the Borough of Malfa.

This area is recognized as one of the best in the island both for its exposure and for the physical-chemical nature of the volcanic soil which is particularly suitable for vine cultivation. The establishment of the vineyard, made exceedingly difficult by the morphology of the soil was carried out in terraces by restoring the old dry-stone walls; ‘Guyot’ pruning is carried out by leaving only a few buds to yield because during the hottest months, due to the impossibility of watering, plants undergo really hard times.

Piero Colosi, the winemaker, has perfected the art of producing wines with the local indigenous grape varieties and he has been well known for 2 wines in particular: Rosso made with Nero d’Avola and Primitivo, and Bianco made with Inzolia and Catarratto. For more meditative versions the estate is vested in Zibibbo, the Moscato clone from Pantelleria that has a sweeter, nuttier richness and makes excellent dessert wines. The Malvasia comes from the Salina Island and is an ambrosial delight of floral and mineral aromas with a great freshness.

Made from 100% Nero d’Avola, Colosi Tinto 2007 is a great, rich and generous everyday wine from Sicily. It has a ruby color with an expressive nose, quite intense with complex aromas of plum and dark cherries. Dry, medium bodied and well balanced, the palate is fairly dense and earthy with ripe fruit flavors mixed with hints of spice. The overall profile of the wine is pleasant, friendly and versatile. Pair it with simple pasta dish, beef, roasted or grilled red meats and cheese.

Enjoy!

LeDom du Vin

Info taken from the importer website at www.Viaswine.com

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Selection of the Month: 2000 Calabretta Etna rosso V.Q.P.R.D. Sicily

How do I choose my "LeDom du Vin: Selection of the Month"

Every month, amongst all the wines that I taste, I'm desperately searching and trying to find that rare gem. That, somewhat, unusual Jewell lost among many imitations, semi-duplicates and other "faux", due to the fact that they are only so few of them in this world, lost in an ocean of passable wines and other fermented grape juices. That inestimable treasure that will blow my mind, and thus will become my selection of the month.

That wine, worthy of becoming my Wine Selection of the Month, usually refers to a wine that delivers rare and unprecedented features and extraordinary appeal, from the attractive color aspect to the expressive nose and finally the balanced and harmonious palate.

Compare to other wines, it possesses more elegance, finesse, subtlety, balance, harmony, length, depth and especially complexity in every way. It also offers mountains of layers of aromas and flavors, and is especially characteristic (or sometime uncharacteristic) from the Terroir, the varietal, the region or the unique style of a specific area.

In most cases, these few incredible wines trigger only one reaction, every time I taste them: "WOW! What a Wine! This is really good! Can I have another glass? Please?"

This month, once again, I found one that deserve the rewarding title. Therefore, here is my selection for April 2009:

2000 Calabretta Etna Rosso V.Q.P.R.D. Sicily
Suggested retail price $24-$28
Distributed by Polaner Selections in NYC

From the north-eastern part of Sicily, this wine was made from vines literally planted, between 300 and 900 meters above sea level, on the slopes of the active Mount Etna Volcano.

Calabretta winery was born by the desire of Massimo and his son Massimiliano Calabretta to carry on the family's three generation tradition in Sicilian grapes growing. In 1900, Gaetano Calabretta and his wife Grazia bought the first vines on the slopes of Mount Etna and started to sell in the North of Italy. After the Second World War, their son Salvatore and his wife Concetta extended the winery and bought new vines. In 1997, Massimo and his son Massimiliano, the third generation, re-organized the winery and began to sell worldwide.

Massimiliano Calabretta, a part-time college professor at the University of Genova (or Geona), is an old-style-traditionalist winemaker. He is carefully following the same steps as his forefather, being the third generation of a winegrower and winemaker family that has been crafting wine in this region and the same cellar since 1900. Given that most Sicilian wines are pretty much made in a rather modern style, finding a more traditional-style wine from this region made with indigenous grapes, is quite exciting.

More over, to add even more interest and uniqueness to this wine, most the vines are 70-80 years old, with a good portion ungrafted. They are organically farmed and the resulting wines are certified organic.

The indigenous Nerello Mascalese grape variety, primarily blended with a bit Nerello Cappuccio, constitutes the secret ingredients of this unique wine. The soil types, which also bring minerality, richness and complexity to this wine, are a combination of black volcanic ash and sand (which are fine and almost silty), intermingled with lots of lava and rocks (which offer very good drainage).This Etna Rosso was aged for 6-7 years in large Botti (Slavonian large oak barrels) before being bottled. The slopes of the Etna, mostly facing south, offer fantastic exposure for the vines to obtain full ripeness, topping the richness and complexity from the soils.


2000 Calabretta Etna Rosso V.Q.P.R.D. is the current vintage from this winery. Already in the nose, this wine is incredible. I could spend a great deal of time just to inspire my brain with its exquisite wild dark berry, earthy, spicy, floral bouquet. It almost as an old Tempranillo-Syrah-Nebbiolo-like attitude and profile, quite difficult to define, but attractive. The nose develops aromas of dried dark cherries, blackberry, floral, tar, licorice, smoke and hints of ashy/volcanic soil, earthy tones. Given the high elevation and big diurnal temperature shifts, the wines retain a great freshness that nicely carries the fruit and the mineral, earthy notes through out the juicy, earthy, meaty, smoky and lovely textured finish. This wine has definitely a good grip in the finish with present yet integrated, almost grainy tannins. What a wine! Full of character, depth and personality!

It is not everyday that you can taste a wine aged-at-the-winery (except may be for most Rioja's Gran Reserva and Reserva Especial, a few Ribera del Duero like "Vega Sicilia", may be a few Barolos and a few super-Tuscan, etc...), perfectly ready to drink, grown and crafted from volcanic soil, at this price. This unique, aged wine is a terrific value, especially under $30 (compared to some of its "pairs" from other regions in Italy, Spain or even France).

Enjoy!

LeDom du Vin

FYI: Polaner also have the 1999 vintage in stock, which is apparently quite too. I'll let you know soon after I have tasted it.

Info partly taken from the distributor: www.polanerselections.com and from the winery: www.calabretta.net

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2007 Valle Dell'Acate "Il Frappato" Vittoria Frappato Sicilia

2007 Valle Dell'Acate "Il Frappato" Vittoria Frappato Sicilia

Suggested retail price $17-$24
Distributed by Polaner Selections in NYC

The Sicilian winery of Valle dell’Acate has a long history amongst the top estates in Sicily, as the Jacono family can trace back their winemaking roots here to the nineteenth century.

It is located in the southeastern corner of Sicily, on the elegant Bidini Manor in the hills of the Dirillo Valley.

The estate comprises over one hundred hectares of land, both for grapevines as well as Sicily’s famous blood oranges.

Under the direction of the current head of the family winery, Gaetana Jacono, many of the vineyards have been replanted to the great traditional grapes of Sicily which are farmed organically.

The estate produces one of the finest examples of Cerasuolo di Vittoria, traditionally Sicily’s greatest wine. Cerasuolo di Vittoria was the first red wine in all of Sicily to achieve DOCG status, and to this day it continues to be one of Sicily’s greatest reds. Valle dell’Acate also makes a great many IGT bottlings from their well-tended vineyards, including Il Nero, Zagra, Il Frappato and Tané. All of the bottlings from Valle dell’Acate must be ranked amongst Sicily’s finest.

This wine was produced entirely from Frappato grapes from Eastern Sicily. It was aged 6 months in steel tanks, then 3 months in bottle.

2007 Valle dell'Acate "Il Frappato" has a very clear robe and light hue. It boasts aromas of wild red and dark berries mix with floral, spicy notes on the nose. The palate offers ripe cherry and black berry fruit flavors with floral, earthy, spicy, slightly smoky notes. Light to medium bodied, with good juicy fruit in the mid-palate, this quite nice, somewhat, rustic wine has a great acidity and a fresh high tone red fruit attitude. It will make a perfect summer wine to have with appetizers. You could even chill it a bit.

Enjoy!

LeDom du Vin

Info partly taken from www.polanerselections.com ,

for more info about this winery go to www.valledellacate.net


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FYI: I just changed the name of my website/blog from www.wineandcolors.com to logically www.ledomduvin.com

2007 Pietra Tagliata Grillo IGT Marsala Sicilia

2007 Pietra Tagliata Grillo Bianco IGT Marsala Sicilia (Sicily)

Suggested retail price $10-$13

Imported and Distributed by Monarchia Matt International in NYC

Located in Marsala, western part of Sicilia, Casa Vinicola Manzo is a family business that benefit from more than 50 years of experience in producing high quality Sicilian wines. The Manzo family always believed in the tremendous potential of their land. They've been producing expressive wines that reflect the Terroir and the true character of the grapes.

In 2000, Vito and Giacomo Manzo launched a new project called Pietra Tagliata, based on the old historical family cellar in Marsala. They produce wines out of nearly 50 hectares of vineyards near by, planted on gently rolling hills a few kilometers inland from the Port of Marsala and the Mediterranean Sea. They produce 2 whites with Grillo and Insolia, and 3 reds with Nero D'Avola, Merlot and Syrah.

Grillo (along with the Insolia and the Catarratto grape) is a white grape variety which withstands the high temperatures and harsh growing condition of Sicily. It is wildly planted and used in Sicilian winemaking, especially for Marsala. The indigenous grape Grillo and Insolia are the most appropriate grapes to grow on the limestone soils an subsoils of Marsala and Trapani.

2007 Pietra Tagliata Grillo Bianco IGT Marsala Sicilia (Sicily) is made out of 100% Grillo grape, cold fermented in stainless still tank to enhance the fruit, keep the freshness and preserve the aromatics of the grape. It has a pale golden yellow color. The nose is clean, fresh, earthy, somewhat minerals with ripe, stony, yellow fruit aromas enlightened by a light oxidative touch reminiscent of honey and nut. The palate is medium to full bodied yet crisp and balanced with a persistent mouthfeel. Ripe yellow fruit and nutty flavors linger in the finish.

Overall, it is a very good discovery, the wine is rich yet bright with a lovely wintery attitude. Try it with fresh fish baked "a l'etouffee" with herbs and other aromatics or "en Sauce". It will also be an ideal companion to cheese.

Enjoy!

LeDom (du Vin)

More info on their website at www.pietratagliata.it