Merkki: Tenuta Rapitalà

Alkoholiprosentti : 13% vol.

Casalj
Catarratto di Montagna
IGT Sicilia

A document of 1340 chronicles a dispute before the royal court concerning the possession of a particularly sought after fief, "Casalj Rabitallavi". This was the ancient name of the Tenuta Rapitalà. The vineyards, the modern ones of chardonnay and the old ones of catarratto, where we select the grapes intended for the wines which are the soul of Casalj Rabitallavi , are at the summit of the mountain which overlooks the Tenuta.

The grapes: Catarratto di Montagna.

The vineyard: selected parcels of vines in the Tenuta Rapitalà at between 300 and 600 metres above sea level, trained by the Guyot system on clayey-sandy ground with yields of grapes lower than 90 quintals per hectare.

The vinification: the chardonnay reaches the required state of ripeness during August, the catarratto is picked in the middle of September. To preserve the varietal aromas contact with oxygen is restricted, maintaining a controlled atmosphere during all stages of the process of vinification: gentle pressing, cold settling and fermentation with selected yeasts. Temperature control enables the fermentation to last for more than two weeks. There are daily analytical checks. The wines are kept on their lees until the blending of the cuvée in March.

The wine: pale gold colour, generous bouquet with strong Mediterranean aromas (sage, tomato leaves, caper flowers), and a full, round, satisfying flavour like the sun of this island where the catarratto expresses unique characteristics unrepeatable anywhere else.

Analytical details: 13,5% alcohol; 5.33 g/l total acidity; 3.43 pH; 2.5 g/l residual sugar; 22 g/l dry extract.

Food matches: full-flavoured fish and shellfish, fish soup, even when spicy, hot and cold white meats.