The wines from Gulfi estate are now part of Italy’s greatest wines, praised by international critics. Since the beginning of 2014, the Crus made by Famiglia Catania have been honored among Italian wines by Decanter, Tanzer and Robert Parker. In Sicily, these wines have a long and great reputation and it is not a coincidence that Gulfi NeroMaccarj 2009 was recently voted best red wine from Sicily by the guide “Vini di Sicilia”. Then, Decanter magazine has given the two highest scores of Sicily to Gulfi and named the wine estate “superstar”.
Situated in the South of Sicily, Gulfi is above all the work and passion of a man, Vito Catania, who continues the work on vines and olive trees initiated by his family in Sicily, more than three generations ago. His passion for wine and his homeland led him to develop this prestigious vineyard in his native country: Chiaramonte Gulfi on Monti Iblei in the province of Ragusa. Since 1996, he added innovation to the inherited tradition of his ancestors, from a long process of massal selection of vines to an extremely meticulous attention to the culture of its vines to create unique and prestigious Crus. The vineyard, which begins precisely in Monti Iblei, in the region of Ragusa – the area of the traditional Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG – extending to the lower part of Sicily, Pachino, specifically in the DOC Eloro. These vines give birth to 4 Crus of Nero d’Avola – as the French people could simply and clearly call them – with one unique difference: the terroir. He also owns an exceptional terroir on the Mount Etna.
All these terroirs are cultivated with a single philosophy: respect for the soil with an environmentally friendly viticulture, in harmony with the ecosystem. Indigenous varieties adapted to these lands for centuries, albarello culture and organic farming are fundamental and essential for Famiglia Catania. Vito Catania is for example very committed to fight against irrigation, which is for him a heresy in Sicily. For him, we must let the Sicilian terroir express itself naturally, consistent with its climate.
Very early, Robert Parker was interested in the famous Crus from Gulfi. After giving 95 points to NeroSanlore 2005, Robert Parker writes: “When I think of benchmark producers of Nero d’Avola one of the first names that comes to mind is Gulfi. The estate makes a number of single-vineyard Nero d’Avolas that provide an opportunity to explore the various shades this great Sicilian variety is capable of expressing. Gulfi’s best-known wines emerge from head-trained Nero d’Avola in the Pachino and Val di Noto districts, all farmed organically. The Reseca, a Nerello Mascalese from the slopes of the Etna, is the exception, but it, too, is fabulous.”
The latest vintage of Gulfi wines now available on the market impressed the critics. Upon their release in late 2013, the 2008 Crus – NeroBufaleffj, NeroMaccarj, NeroSanlorè, NeroBaronj – received a warm welcome : “The highlight among these new releases is the 2008 Nerobaronj. An exotic melange of juicy dark cherries, freshly cut flowers, licorice and tobacco takes shape as this huge, racy wine shows off its irrepressible personality. The integrity of the fruit and the wine’s sheer balance are both marvelous to behold. Layers of fruit fill out the broad-shouldered finish beautifully. In 2008, the Nerobaronj is striking in every way. I loved it.”, comments Robert Parker.
Famiglia Catania will present their wines at Vinitaly 2014, in the Sicily Pavilion.
(You can reach the writer at info@vitabella.fr)
