Azienda Agricola Cortese Sabuci Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG 2021 is produced in Sicily. It is organic and made from Nero d’Avola and Frappato grapes.
The wine is ruby-red with garnet flecks. Its aroma is dominated by fruit, with scents of cherries, pomegranate, and forest fruits, along with cocoa, leather, and caramel. The palate is elegant and complex. It is highly concentrated, with firm and persistent tannins.
The Cortese area, located in the Vittoria region, was heavily influenced by Greek culture, and the ancient Greek site of Kamarina is situated nearby.
Sabuci is made from the best selection of Nero d’Avola (about 70%) and Frappato (about 30%) grapes, which are carefully hand-harvested at the end of September and the beginning of October. The grapes are put into small containers, and the temperature is reduced to around 10°C.
The Nero d’Avola and Frappato grapes are fermented separately in different ways. The Nero d’Avola is fermented in open-top barrels, allowing for a scrupulous process. The skins are immersed by hand and delicately. The Frappato, on the other hand, is fermented in 7hl terracotta amphorae. The natural porosity of terracotta allows for the ideal oxygen exchange during the fermentation process, and it also enables the wine to remain in contact with the skins for up to 12 months.
The two wines are blended together and aged for six months in barrels and bottles of various sizes. The wine is then kept in the bottle for at least three months before being introduced to the market. This wine is best served at 16-18°C and pairs well with meat—or mushroom-based main dishes, as well as meat—or mushroom-based pasta or rice dishes.
90 Points by James Suckling
