'Altomare' Barraco 2022
Artisanal"Altomare" from the renowned Sicilian winery Barraco is an interesting Grillo in purity with great character and aromaticity that pairs well with fish dishes and white meats. The grapes are carefully selected from different vineyards and the winemaking is done using only indigenous yeasts, aging takes place in Slavonian oak barrels for 15 months. The color is golden yellow with bright reflections and the aromas released recall hazelnuts, shortcrust pastry, and cedar. The sip is creamy, mineral, balanced, and long.
Barraco presents ‘Altomare’, a rich Sicilian interpretation with a maritime character, resulting from a peculiar winemaking process using only Grillo grapes. In fact, the clusters come from 4 different vineyards and are processed in equally different ways, with the aim of creating a complex and unique white wine. Not by chance, the intention that guides this winery in Marsala is to offer “wines recognizable for their personality, where dissonant notes strongly contribute to their characterization,” as stated by the producer Nino Barraco himself. To pursue this production philosophy, the intervention in the winery is minimal and solely aimed at letting the terroir speak.
The Sicilian white ‘Altomare’ from the Barraco winery represents a pure Grillo, whose grapes come from 4 different geographical areas, mainly composed of sand and red soil. The first harvest occurs early and the must obtained macerates for two days on the skins; a second harvest involves old vines and the maceration lasts three days; a third harvest is late and the processing follows the oxidative style, with 48 hours of maceration on the skins and aging in 10 hl barrels; finally, the grapes from the fourth harvest are fermented whole cluster. All fermentations occur spontaneously and the different masses are first assembled and then elevated in large Slavonian oak barrels of 25 hl, where they rest for 15 months.
Barraco ‘Altomare’ reveals an intense golden yellow color with brilliant reflections. The bouquet is intoxicating and complex, characterized by notes of cedar and honey accompanied by hints of shortcrust pastry and hazelnuts. Full and enveloping tasting, fresh and mineral, with a savory and persistent finish. A white wine with a baroque style capable of accompanying a wide range of dishes, provided they are rich and flavorful.