Valle dell'Acate 2021 'Il Frappato' Vittoria Frappato DOC
Item Number: 17675
UPC: 8-002621000034
Country: Italy
Region: Sicily
Sub Region: Ragusa
Appellation/AVA: Vittoria Frappato DOC
Estate Grown Wine: Yes
Vintage: 2021
Grape(s): 100% Frappato
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 12.5
Viticulture: Certified Organic
Soil Type: Black soil with white pebbles
Elevation: 100 meters asl
Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation with native yeast in stainless steel
Aging: 6 months in steel tanks
Vineyard Notes: The vineyards are located around 100 meters above sea level. The soil is black, relatively compact and riddled with white stones. The soil structure makes it possible for plant roots to oxygenate freely, extending down deep into the ground. The Frappato draws complex perfumes and a decent acidity from the characteristics of the terrain. ICEA organic certification since 2018, but the vineyards have always been grown organically.
Tasting Notes: The Valle dell'Acate Frappato is fragrant, fresh and bursting out with intense notes of red fruit, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, violet and sage. The palate is vivacious, fresh and persistent. The fruit lingers on the dry, pleasant finish. Serve with light appetizers including cheese, salami, and sashimi. Serve slightly chilled.
About Sicily: With its intense southern sunshine, Sicily’s wines are deep-colored and high-strength. For much of the century, the focus was on quantity, but the nineties brought a shift toward quality, and more investment from the north. And it’s a boon for everyone that the wines have begun living up to their potential: with mountainous terrain and poor (i.e., vine-friendly) soil, intense summer heat, and low rainfall, their potential is legion. Add to the mix a range of native grapes with real personality–Catarrato, Insolia, Grillo, Nero d’Avola, Frappato, Perricone, and Nerello Mascalese–and you have a unique wine producing region that is making huge strides on the international scene. DOC (Denominazione d’Origine Controllata) wines are less common than the IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica).
Recommended in Chicago Tribune (11/2016)
Beyond Barolo and Brunello by Tom Hyland (2012)
"Frappato, one of two varieties that make up the blend for Cerasuolo di Vittoria, is made as a stand-alone variety by a few producers in the Vittoria area. My favorite is that of Valle delle Acate, a first-rate estate a bit north of Vittoria. What makes this estate's Frappato so special are the aromas, which offer not only lovely maraschino cherry and cranberry perfumes, but also a savory, slightly meaty edge to them. Medium-bodied and aged only in steel tanks, this has beautiful complexity, balance and varietal purity and is a delight!"