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Terroir

Alto Reale is sourced from a single high altitude vineyard on a 12 acre parcel of Rapitalà’s 500+ acres estate. The vineyard lies between at a high elevation of 1,300 to 1,700 feet and is planted to 10 year old cordon-spur trained Nero d’Avola vines. The terrain is dry and steep forcing the vines to dig deep into the barren soil. This high-altitude location sees significant diurnal changes in temperature, allowing for greater aromatic complexity and the development of a strong acidic backbone in the final wine.

Vinification

Made with organic grapes. Fruit is hand harvested and brought to the cellars in small crates to avoid disturbing the ripe grapes. The grapes are cooled at the winery right at the foot of the vineyards. The must is macerated and vinified with pump-overs in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Following racking the young wine is transferred into third use or older French oak barriques where it will rest for five months before another racking and an additional 7 months in larger 50 hl oak barrels. The goal is a slow and delicate aging that stabilizes tannins and polyphenols.

Tasting Notes

Hints of ripe fruit, cinnamon, and licorice and an intense and harmonious taste allow for a fresher wine, with delicate tannins and easy to drink style.

Food Pairing

Grilled meats, charcuterie, mature cheeses, pizza, and red-sauce pasta dishes

Appellation

Sicilia DOC

Winemaker

Silvio Centonze

Sizes Available

750 ML

Awards & Recognition

88 points
Wine Advocate

The organic 2021 Sicilia Nero d'Avola Alto Reale puts the spotlight on primary fruit thanks to easy winemaking in stainless steel and partial oak aging. There is plump dark cherry, blackberry, olive and scorched earth in this wine, which has an ample production of 130,000 bottles. Bitter cherry fruit appears on the close.

Tenuta Rapitalà has recently revisited some of its label designs and has added a few certified organic wines to the portfolio. In fact, this estate has been making organic wines for a number of years already. The entire estate covers 260 hectares of land in Camporeale (in Palermo province) with 180 hectares of vines, ranging from 300 to 600 meters in elevation. The lower areas see clay soils, and the higher vineyards are characterized by sandy soils.

89 points
Best Buy
Wine Enthusiast

Sweet red-fruit aromas of candied cherry and strawberry fruit leather leap off the nose, with vanilla close behind. The palate stays fruit forward and juicy but with cedar and a dry, hardened dirt note underlined by dusty tannins.

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Rapitala

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