Curatolo Arini Marsala Superiore DOC 10 Years Old
Type: Fortified Wine
Country: Italy
Region: Sicily
Grape Variety: Grillo, Catarratto, Inzolia
Alcohol Percentage: 18%
Viticulture: Organic Farming
Climate: Blessed with consistently bright sunshine and reliably moderate rainfall, Sicily’s classic Mediterranean climate is ideally suited to the production of wine grapes. The warm, dry climate means that mildews and rots are kept to a minimum, particularly in well-ventilated areas that benefit from coastal breezes
Terroir: Vineyards are located in the coastal area of Marsala with plenty of sunshine and heat.
Ageing: Grillo, Inzolia and Catarratto grapes, hand-picked late september. Destemming, maceration and fermentation at a controlled temperature of 20-25C° in stainless steel vats for approx. 7 days with frequent delestages. When all the sugars are svolti, skin maceration continues for another 7 days for optimal tannin extraction, which is very important for the ageing process. Fortification is done by adding alcohol up to 18% then follows Mistella and cooked must. Ageing in Slavonian casks, French and American Barriques and tonneaux.
Color: Amber
Nose: Toasted wild almonds, dates, sultanas and vanilla
Palate: Full and enveloping, with a savoury and persistent finish
About the Winery:
This estate is the oldest family-owned Marsala producer in Sicily today. It was founded in 1875 by Vito Curatolo Arini, who added Arini, his mother’s family name, in order to distinguish himself from the many other Curatolos living in his area. The estate has always been linked to high-quality Marsala production and in the late 1970s also started producing still wines from native grapes. The new range of wines under the Curatolo Arini label showcases a great expression of native Sicilian varieties. Light wines from local grapes Grillo, Inzolia, and Cataratto are fortified with white grape spirits in the traditional way and are then cask aged. Made in the traditional way, the Marsala Fine is dry in style and has all the characteristics of good Marsala with notes of toasted almonds, citrus and caramel.
Winemaker Alberto Antonini has also been recently named by Decanter Magazine as one of the ‘Top 5 winemakers in the world’.