Nero d’Avola Sicilia DOC

Le Casematte is owned by the charismatic Gianfranco Sabbatino and soccer champion Andrea Barzagli, whose collective passion for terroir-driven wines come through in their wines. Located on the northeastern corner of the triangular island, near Messina, Le Casematte’s flagship wine is a Faro DOC, a single, tiny, quality-driven appellation, whose total surface is a mere 20 hectares – less than 50 acres. And in fact, the winery is located at Faro Superiore, high above the Strait of Messina, where the steep hillsides have a 70% gradient. It was named after two casematte or casemates (also known as bunkers) from World War II that sit on the main property and served as observatories and defensive structures at that time.
Nero d’Avola is one of the most widely grown grapes in the whole of Sicily and is often compared to Shiraz from other nations. This “black” grape thrives in the blistering Sicilian sun and is juicy, crisp, fruity and fragrant. A warm and full-bodied wine, Le Casematte’s version is grown in vineyards in Butera, Sicily, from twenty-year-old vines. It ages about three months in stainless steel and about three months in bottle.
Wine exported to
Austria, Canada, USA, Japan, Puerto Rico, Australia, Turks and Caicos
Most recent awards
- 2015 | Wine Enthusiast89
Grape Varieties:
100% Nero d'Avola
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
8 days
Type of yeast:
Selected yeast
Fermentation temperature:
20 °C (68 °F)
Maceration technique:
Skin contact
Length of maceration:
6 days
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Aging containers:
Stainless steel
Bottling period:
march
Aging before bottling:
3 months
Aging in bottle:
3 months
Closure:
diam
Organic:
No
Vineyard name:
no name
Vineyard location:
Buttera, Sicily
Vineyard size:
10 hectares (24.7 acres)
Soil composition:
Calcareous clay and sand
Vine training:
Guyot
Altitude:
250-370 meters (820 and 1,215 feet) above sea level
Vine density:
5,000-6,000 plants per hectare
Yield:
90 -110 quintals per hectare
Exposure:
Northwestern
Years planted:
1999
Age of vines:
15-20 years old
Time of harvest:
Mid to late September
First vintage of this wine:
2014
Total yearly production (in bottles):
15,000
Tasting notes:
Brilliant ruby red in color with violet reflections. The nose has generous aromas of small red berries, floral fragrances as well as carob, licorice and spice. On the palate, the wine has fresh acidity, rich fruity flavors, mineral notes, and vibrant tannins.
Serving temperature:
Best served at 16-18 °C (60.8-64.4 °F).
Food pairings:
Pairs well with grilled meat, roasts, game and aged cheese.
Aging potential:
3 years
Alcohol:
Alcohol cont.: 12.5% by vol.; dry extract: 20 g/l; residual sugar: <5 g/l; total acidity: 6.5 g/l; pH: 3.2
Winemaker:
Gianfranco Sabbatino