Il Passo Nerello Mascalese

The grapes for Il Passo Nerello Mascalese grow in the hills near Lago Arancio on the island of Sicily. This lake is located in the southeastern part of the island, near Sambuca di Sicilia, where the relatively young Vigneti Zabù winery has its cellars. The vines for this wine thrive in clay soil that retains water very well, allowing them to withstand the hot summers. At the beginning of ripening, the leaves are cut about 10 cm before the grapes, so that the fruit loses up to 30% of its weight (water) as it ripens due to the heat and the sirocco wind. The fully ripe grapes are crushed and pressed after about 15 days of maceration. The wine then matures for 6 months in small barriques. After a further 3-4 months, it is bottled. Color: deep, intense ruby ​​red. On the nose, the wine is very fruity and warm. Sweet, ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries and plums emerge, along with spicy notes of black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon. On the palate, the Il Passo Nerello Mascalese from Vigneti Zabù is very warm and smooth. It boasts velvety tannins and a pleasant fruit sweetness that makes it exceptionally supple. The fruity aromas are beautifully expressed. Decanter World Wine Awards, 2014: Silver; International Wine Challenge, 2014: Commended; Mundus Vini, 2014: Silver