Merkki: Tenuta Rapitalà

GRAND CRU
Chardonnay
Sicilia IGT

This wine is a synthesis of the Tenuta's philosophy expressing with its strong personality the uniqueness of the area. The selection of the grapes from the most celebrated vine parcels, the vinification techniques which enhance its typicity and the prestigious bottle with the relief of the ancient noble coat-of -arms of the family of Hugues Bernard Comte de la Gatinais make "Grand Cru" the symbolic wine of Rapitala'.

The grapes: Chardonnay.

The vineyard: selected parcels of vines in the Tenuta Rapitalà, situated on the middle slopes, at about 450 metres above sea level are trained by the Guyot system on clayey-sandy soil with yields lower than 90 quintals per hectare.

The vinification: the grapes picked when fully ripe when their richness is at its maximum (August) are vinified by the white wine method with a gentle pressing and cold settling of the young must.

The maturation: the young must (part of it having undergone a short cold maceration), after the classic decanting, starts the alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel containers; around two-thirds of this is put into French oak barriques where it stays in contact with its lees for more than a year before being bottled in January of the following year. The refinement in bottle lasts for at least three months.

The wine: pale gold colour. The typical full, fruity, soft character of the chardonnay and the aromatic notes of the wood are evident on the nose. A round wine, with well defined Mediterranean scents, full-bodied and satisfying with a long and lingering finish.

Analytical details: 14% alcohol; 5.10 g/l total acidity; 3.60 pH; 3.4 g/l residual sugar; 25.7 g/l dry extract.

Food matches: hot and cold white meats, shellfish, smoked fish, terrines and galantines, foie gras, herb flavoured and mature cheeses.