Zisola Achilles

Zisola

2016
Red
Terre Siciliane

Thanks to the soil rocky and calcareous and to the dry climate, the Syrah grape express itself at the best in Sicily, and in particular at Zisola, where the "alberello" (bushy vines) training system allows to keep under control the natural exuberance of the varietal.

Winery: Zisola Winery

Location: Noto, Sicilia

Grape varieties: Syrah

Alcohol: 14.38%

Total acidity: 5.94‰

Vineyards location: 130 m.a.s.l.; S/E exposure

Soil: Medium texture, calcareous and mineral

Training system: Head-pruned bush vines

Nr. of vines per hectare: 5.500 plants

Harvest: Hand picked from September 9th

Fermentation temperature: 27 °C

Period of maceration: 15 days

Ageing: 16 months in small french oak barrels (225 lt / 50% new)

Bottling: December 2017

Production: 8000 bottles First vintage:

2015 Ageing potential: Over 20 years

Key descriptors: Full and elegant, notes of black cherry, leaves, forest underbrush, tannic and rich aftertaste Food pairing: Game stews, Porcini mushrooms, hard cheeses (Ragusano)

Producer
Zisola
Region
Sicily
Variety
Syrah/Shiraz
Alcohol-abv
14.5%
Reviews

James Suckling 92 Points, Robert Parker 93 Points

Add to shopping cart
£40
Request information

Ratings

92 Points James Suckling

93 Points Robert Parker

Sicily

Sicily

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Blessed with consistently bright sunshine and reliably moderate rainfall, the classic Mediterranean climate is ideally suited to the needs of wine-bearing grape vines. The soils, and the mountains from which they came, are of particular interest when it comes to studying Sicilian viticulture.

Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano at 10,930ft (3330m), is responsible for the mineral-rich, dark soils which characterize the Etna DOC. Vineyards are now being planted higher up on the volcanic slopes, to capitalize on the cooler air and richer soils there. Fifty miles (80km) south, the Iblei Mountains stake their place in eastern Sicilian wine. On their lower slopes and the coastal plains below them, the DOCs of Siracusa, Noto and Vittoria sweep from east to west, forming a crescent which mirrors the arcing coastline.

Wine Appellations

IGT: Sicilia; Terre Siciliane; Avola

DOC: Etna; Noto; Marsala; Pantelleria; Sicilia; Vittoria

DOCG: Cerasuolo di Vittoria Indigenous Grapes varieties White: Carricante; Cataratto; Grillo; Inzolia; Malvasia delle Lipari; Zibibbo Red: Alicante; Frappato; Grecanico; Nerello Mascalese; Nerello Cappuccio; Nero d’Avola; Perricone; Syrah

Grape Varieties

In terms of red-wine varieties, the most common after Nero d'Avola is Grecanico, accompanied by small quantities of Alicante (Grenache), Perricone, and Frappato, the latter being the key ingredient in Sicily’s only DOCG wine Cerasuolo di Vittoria. Sibling varieties Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio are also small players in terms of volume, but are of vital importance around Mount Etna. In regard of white wines the principal grape varieties are: Cataratto, Inzolia, Grillo, and Carricante