Terre Siciliane Catarratto IGT “Ciello Bianco” 2022 – Ciello

The dynamic Vesco family took over the winery 10 years ago and has since revolutionized the viticultural practices and invested heavily in cutting-edge technology for the winery and bottling line. Their hundred hectares of organic vineyards are located high up in the hills above Alcamo. The wines are all certified organic and planted on southeast-facing slopes on sandy soils 150 – 300m above sea level. The climate is clearly suited for producing the best quality grapes. The vineyards are in three main sites: Alcamo for Catarratto and Nero d’Avola. The grapes tend to be picked earlier in the year than many of their neighbors which produces their customary bright, fresh style of wine. The results are evident in the Catarratto and perfumed, fresh Nero d’Avola. These wines are a million miles from the overripe styles made by many of their peers. Night harvesting and modern temperature-controlled fermentations result in bright, fresh, modern wines. Fragrant, crisp Catarratto with a pleasant trace of pink grapefruit, apple skin with soft almond on the finish, and soft, warm, and plummy Nero d’Avola with good character. The first bottling of the Ciello tends to have the lees in evident suspension, the wine be chalky-opaque, but the fresh has that just-off-the-tank freshness. Subsequent bottlings will be a mite less cloudy; what you gain in clarity you lose a touch in mouthfeel. The Baglio red is 100% Nero d’Avola from their organic vineyards. Short maceration of a week of whole bunch (40%) and destemmed (60%) grapes. Wild yeast, no sulfur, no fining, no filtration. Chewy plum character, herbal with peppery tannins. The white 100% Catarratto from their organic vineyard. 3 days skin maceration, no fining, no filtration, no sulfur. The color here is amber, the fruit is warm and spicy and the palate is rich without being heavy. Tasted blind you might pick this as an orange from northern Italy, made from a noble grape.