Today I introduce you an absolutely new wine, as, while I am writing it is going to be released on the domestic and foreign market. It is produced in a special area of “my” Sicily , the area of production is Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico, the sole DOCG of the island. It is made by one of the most dynamic wineries of the area, probably a flagship winery of this place, Valle dell’Acate, whose name comes from this area, Valle dell’Acate of Dirillo, a small river and even the name of this South – Eastern town of Sicily, in the province of Ragusa.
Let me recall and underline a quote by the producer, Gaetana Jacono:
“Wine has always been in the human history. Wine is culture and culture is a bond with history, that can not ever be interrupted but it is handed down from the past to the future.”
Gaetana Jacono
That’s absolutely true! Valle dell’Acate is in the estate Feudo Bidini, in the valley fo Dirillo. The modern winery has been built where once there was the ancient beam of the Cooperative. The owners of the winery are the go-ahead and stubborn Gaetana Jacono (sixth generation of her winemaking family) and the entrepreneur Francesco Ferreri, Sicily Assovini President (the association of about 80 Sicilian wineries).
The current winery has been founded by Giuseppe Jacono, Gaetana’s father, also World Ambassador of Cerasuolo di Vittoria. Their foresight is showed also by their choices, as picking, in 2014, Carlo Casavecchia, as consultant winemaker from Piedmont, that work side by side with the winery oenologist Giuseppe Romano, with the main aim of producing authentic wines.
But the main actor is always the wine. Here we go with some tasting notes.
“Iri da Iri” Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico DOCG 2013. This is absolutely the very first release of this wine and I am honored to be one of the first to taste it. It is a blend of 60% Nero d’Avola and 40% Frappato (native grape from Ragusa province).
There is an intriguing story behind the choice of this wine’s name. The name Iri da Iri comes from an excerpt from Dante Alighieri (Canto 33 Paradiso, Divine Comedy) where it is described how the reflection of two irises may generate a third circle of fire. The comparison is obvious: as the irises are joint together, in the same way, from the blend of two grapes, as Nero d’Avola and Frappato, a touching wine comes out. The name is like a sound or a picture. Valle dell’Acate produces this wine only in the best years and it is a real cru.
My tasting notes: in the glass, it is a clear, brilliant ruby red, with some garnet hints. On the nose, you can smell fresh fruit flavours as dark berries, ripe cherries, medicinal herbs, cardamom, juniper berries, vanilla, liquorice and cocoa. It’s harmonic and elegant. On the palate, it’s smooth and full bodied, with velvety tannins, delicate on the palate and mouth. It’s long lasting, intense, lissom. This is the perfect match of power and elegance.
Some technical data: aging in 500-liter tonneaux for 36 months. Bottled in November 2016 an aged in bottle for 18 months. Limited production, only 3000 bottles per year.
Retail Price: € 26 – $ 30,50 – My Rating: 93/100
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