Miopasso Nero d Avola 2020

Miopasso Nero d'Avola, Belice, Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC, Italy, 2020     

Grape: 100% Nero d’Avola [now upgraded from an IGT wine to full DOC]

This Nero d’Avola is a real point of interest, being made by combining a small percentage of wine made from grapes which have been air-dried ("Appassimento") to wine made from normally ripened grapes, further enhancing the traditional characteristics of this complex, charming grape variety. Deep, purple red with an incredibly intense nose featuring black pepper and spices. The palate offers layers and layers of fruit with bursts of dark berry fruit, offering excellent balance and complexity, with a soft, long finish. 

Vinification: The Nero d’Avola grapes are transported in small containers so that they are not crushed by their own weight, and are very softly destemmed in order to keep the skins intact. Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature between 22-24°C, with a pumping over of the must in order to achieve the best extraction of colour, soft tannins and aromas from the skins. The grapes for “appassimento” are dried for about 30 days on trays in a ventilated room until they lose at least 25% of their natural weight. After “appassimento” the grapes are destemmed, very gently crushed and fermented at about 24 C° with frequent pumping over. The two wines are blended together, after which malolactic fermentation takes place.