FL Terre Siciliane Frappato

Strawberries and cherries, lovely

A banger. Shows like a cru Fluery.

The wines of Adrianna Occhipinti have been on my radar for about 7 seven years now and it seems that every vintage brings me closer and closer to falling head over heals. Her standard Frappato is, to my palate, a benchmark for the variety. This example comes exclusively from the Fossa di Lupo contrada, a vineyard that she has worked since 2004. The vineyard itself is sandy with solid limestone about 2ft from the surface. The wine pours a deep ruby with considerable sediment for a relatively young wine. On the nose, it smells “Italian” with notes of gym sock, stewed black fruits and briars. The wine also has a ferrous characteristic with crushed rock, and marine air. On the palate, the wine is rather austere with tart black bramble fruit and dark cherries, minerals, and grapefruit pith. Medium tannin and high acid. The finish is long and mineral driven. I really dig this and a few years on its side is very likely to bring bigger rewards so I would hold’em if you got’em. 2700 bottles produced.

Funky as hell. Barnyard status.

Medium ruby; medium intensity aromas of strawberries, red currant, fresh raspberry, floral, crushed volcanic rock; dry, medium plus acid, medium tannins, medium alcohol, medium minus body, medium plus intensity flavors of fresh red fruits, perfumes florals, crushed mineral, subtle spice; long finish, very delicate and elegant, outstanding

Dark brambly blackberries, leathery mm mm mm

Queen of Sicilian wine making delivers.

Red fruit, minerals, saline, herbal

This single vineyard wine grows on limestone with very little soil. The is linear and mineral. You can smell it and taste it readily. From Fossa di Lupo Contrada.

Heavenly cuvée frappato from the queen of Sicilian winemaking, Arianna Occhipinti. Last May we visited at her winery and family’s agricultural inn.