The new 2014 edition of the “Vini di Sicilia” guide has just announced that the best red wine from Sicily was NeroMaccarj 2009, one the four Crus produced by Famiglia Catania in Pachino. This is a new prize for Famiglia Catania whose wines are regularly awarded and receive top ratings from international critics.
Vito Catania: “Even if we produce small volumes of Gulfi Crus every year, we have the chance to send them all over the world and to show that Sicily can make one of the most outstanding wines in the world. Of course this 2009 is still too young, it needs 10 to 15 years to reveal its complexity but the pleasure our family has now when pairing it with the food prepared by our chef at Gulfi is already great!”
For over 100 years, the work done by Famiglia Catania has been based on 3 main pillars. Naturalita: The same naturalness that characterizes Gulfi wines with organic and traditional viticulture, based on indigenous grapes and non-intrusive winemaking. Alberello: It is for Famiglia Catania the only system that allows, under an extreme climate such as in Sicily, to produce wines with great complexity and with finesse. It suits perfectly with the natural environment and requires no chemical and no irrigation. Indigenous grape varieties: Famiglia Catania disagreed with the gradual replacement of indigenous grape varieties with international varieties, that took place in Sicily in recent years and that led to the loss of old varieties. Famiglia Catania is convinced that these old varieties were adapted for centuries to a particular and spe-cific environment in which they are an integral part and where, well grown and vinified, they make wines with a strong typicity.
The 4 Pachino Crus (Baronj, Maccarj Bufaleffj and Sanlorè) are vinified separately but with the same approach. The same grape: Nero d’Avola. The same system: alberello. The same exposure: a tray. All these plots are very close to each other, but reveal four wines diametrically opposed. Here, we do not speak of Nero d’Avola wine, but of wine from Pachino.
The 2014 “Vini di Sicilia” guide about Maccarj 2009: “Powerful, impressive aromas. This 2009 is marked by an incredible range of varietal aromas, of earth, including red fruit jam and medicinal herbs. On the palate, a great acidity and delicate tannins balanced by a solid structure. A finish that never ends.”
Read about the full list of awarded wines in the 2014 edition
(You can reach the writer at info@vitabella.fr)
