Tasting Date: 2/6/2013
Varietal: Insolia 2008
Country: Sicily
Tasting Date Price: $15.99
Rating: WS 2008 86; WE 2008 86
Alcohol Content: 13%
Vineyard Website: click here
Visual Aspect: Golden straw yellow w/ light greenish reflections.
Nose: scents of exotic fruit. Rich w/ delicate scents of sweet almonds
Palate: Delicately dry w/excellent balance & clean aftertaste.
Food Pairing: Perfect w/ vegetable-based soups & pasta dishes, fish soups, shellfish or white meats.
Winery Notes: 100% Insolia grapes
THE AREA
The estate is located in the district of Butera in the Province of Caltanissetta, and lies entirely within the DOC production zone of Riesi. Here we are in the heart of Sicily, where the hills, the sunshine, the altitude and the proximity of the sea give ideal conditions for the production of outstanding fine wines.
THE ESTATE
Feudo Principi di Butera is an estate that once belonged to the noble Branciforte and Lanza di Scalea dynasties. The first Sicilian to be named a Prince in 1543 was Ambrogio Branciforte, upon whom King Philip II of Spain bestowed the title of Prince of Butera, a position which, up until the 19th century, remained Sicily’s most important feudal honor.
CLIMATE AND SOIL
The climate is warm and temperate, with annual rainfall of no more than 600 mm (24 in). The average annual temperature is 17°C (63°F), and the warmest months are July, August and September, with mean temperatures of 23°-24°C (73°-75°F). Thanks to the altitude of the estate, the maximum temperature is hardly ever higher than 34°C (93°F), thus guaranteeing optimum photosynthetic efficiency for the leaves of the vines. The bench of whitish marls on the soil’s surface that reflects the rays of the sun, creating an ideal microclimate around the bunches for the full ripening of grapes’ phenols. It incorporates modest levels of clayey and sandstone breccia.
THE VINEYARDS
They are Cordon Spur trained with a density of 5,000 vines per hectare (2,025 per acre). Each plant produces, on average, 1.3-1.5 kilos (2.9-3.3 lb) of grapes. The surface currently under vine is 135 hectares (334 acres).
CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES
The management of the vineyard is inspired by the traditional manual tasks carried out by the farm workers. Its goal is for the vines to benefit from as much sunlight as possible, while maintaining their leaf systems in optimum condition and aiming for a perfect balance between the vines and the grapes themselves so as to guarantee the highest possible quality in the wines produced.
GRAPE VARIETIES AND WINES
Feudo Principi di Butera grows Nero d’Avola and Insolia, indigenous varieties, but also Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chardonnay to satisfy the demand of the international market.
