Curatolo Arini, Nero d'Avola
Vintage: 2022
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | CR108B22 | 6 x 75 | Agglomerated Cork | Available |
Producer
Curatolo Arini, founded in 1875 by Vito Curatolo Arini, is run by the family’s fifth generation, making it the oldest family-owned Marsala producer still in existence. Alberto Antonini is Curatolo Arini’s consultant winemaker. His influence is evident in the wines, combining the richness that Sicily can easily provide with the freshness only someone with Alberto’s experience can retain. Thanks to the favourable climate in Sicily, consistency in quality can also be assured from vintage to vintage.
The single-vineyard Zibibbo (aka Muscat of Alexandria) is grown in vineyards in the western part of Sicily, just inland from Marsala. It is a dry, aromatic style which pairs perfectly with food. The Nero d‘Avola grapes hail from vineyards in central Sicily, in the province of Caltanissetta. The vineyards here are planted 500 metres above sea level, where the combination of warm days and cool nights helps produce premium, fruit-driven red wines.
Both the Inzolia and Cataratto are sourced from vineyards planted around 500 meters above sea level in the Chirchiaro area, near Salemi, and are made similarly. After destemming and crushing, the grapes are macerated for a few hours before being softly pressed and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wines spend two months on their lees before bottling, resulting in fresh and vibrant expressions with beautiful aromatics and a clear sense of place.
The Marsalas are made traditionally and offer a great alternative to Sherry. Ernesto Basile, a famous Palermo architect in the latter part of the 19th century, designed the stunning Art Deco label. The Marsala Fine offers an expressive dry style with delicious dried citrus notes and toasted almonds. The Marsala Superiore uses base wines made from the Sicilian grapes Grillo, Inzolia and Catarratto, fortified with white grape spirit and aged for five years in cask. The Riserva is only made in the best vintages and undergoes a similar ageing process, resulting in a rich, aromatic and heady wine. The Marsala Vergine Riserva, similarly, is produced in only the best vintages, sees a longer ageing process that lasts almost 25 years. As a result of this, it has beautiful length and complexity.
Vineyards
The vineyards are located in contrada Fulgatore at an altitude of about 200 m. above sea level on a medium textured soil rich in limestone and clay. The altitude, together with the distance from the sea, provides excellent diurnal variation. The warm Sicilian sun is balanced with fresh, cool evenings, ensuring ideal conditions for the ripening of the grapes. The vines are planted south facing following the Vertical Trellis System on sandy and clay rich soil using Guyot pruning.
Vintage
Autumn was rainy, with temperatures remaining at the seasonal average until the beginning of February when a cold spell arrived. Spring was fairly cool, with bud burst occurring 10 days later than expected and growth slightly slower than usual, but regular. These conditions favoured good flowering and fruit set, and, despite the rainy, windy and cool weather seen throughout April through to mid-May, fruit development was healthy and generous. Temperatures through the summer were average and allowed for a uniform veraison. 10 days of significant heat in early August caused water stress to the vines, but temperatures soon returned to average and levels of humidity increased, allowing them to recover in the harvest period. Yields were below average, but of good quality.
Vinification
After de-stemming and maceration on the skins for a period of 12 days, the grapes were gently pressed and then vinified in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks at temperatures of 24° C for 15 days. 70% of the wine aged in stainless-steel tanks while the remaining 30% spent 10 months in 250 litre oak casks.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
This wine is ruby red in colour with purple hints. On the nose, there are aromas of violets, red cherries, plums and a hint of white pepper. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with soft tannins. There are intense red fruit characters and delicate notes of spices on the long finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
13.5%
Acidity
5.85 g/l
Residual Sugar
3.77 g/l
pH
3.71
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curatolo Arini | Marsala Superiore Riserva | CR102 | M | Factsheet | |
| Marsala Fine | CR103 | M | Factsheet | ||
| Marsala Superiore Dolce | CR104 | M | Factsheet | ||
| `Gagliardetta` Zibibbo Secco | CR109 | W | |||
| Marsala Vergine Riserva | CR134 | M | Factsheet | ||
| Inzolia | CR136 | W |