Non-vintage Technical Specifications
Grape Varieties 100% Grillo
Classification Marsala Superiore Riserva DOC; semi-dry
Region Marsala
Soil Limestone and sandy loam on mostly level land
Vineyard Yield 25 hL/ha
Harvest Dates Last week of September
Estate Grown Yes
Fermentation Vessels Oak and chestnut vats
Pressing Method Manual Grape Selection Followed By Soft Pressing And Natural Decantation
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Oak Types Oak and chestnut
Production Details The 1988-designated release comes from a 12-hectare Samperi vineyard with vines stated as 19–41 years old, trained alberello or single Guyot at 3,500 vines/ha. Grapes are hand-picked into small cases, selected, softly pressed, naturally decanted and fermented at ambient temperature with wild yeast in oak and chestnut. Mistella made from fresh Grillo must and distilled Grillo spirit is added. The producer states maturation for more than 20 years in differently sized oak vessels; its wine page also specifies large oak and chestnut vats. Bowler describes an initial year in conical wooden tini, followed by mistella fortification, oxidative fractional blending in an untopped solera without flor, and subsequent untopped individual-barrel aging. The producer recommends 14–16 °C (57–61 °F). Bowler reports only a generalized usual residual-sugar range of 50–60 g/L, not an exact analysis for this release. Release-year provenance is inconsistent: the producer page and PDF principally identify 1988 and call it the fortification year, whereas the page subheading and linked label filename refer to 1987; Bowler instead explains the label year as the year the wine entered individual-barrel aging after solera.
Tasting Notes Eric Guido, Vinous Media, June 2023: dark amber with orange hues; dried apricot, peach, cedar, ginger, sour citrus, butterscotch, clove, golden raisin and hazelnut; silky, savory and exceptionally persistent.
Food Pairing Biscuits; blue cheeses served with spicy mustard or jam
Critics Ratings 96
Producer Information
Website
Address
Contrada Fornara Samperi, 292, 91025 Marsala (TP), Sicily, Italy
Phone
+39 0923 962093
Email
Owner
Renato De Bartoli, Sebastiano De Bartoli, Josephine De Bartoli