Mazzei Zisola Nero d’Avola Sicilia Noto Rosso DOC

Description

Mazzei Zisola Nero d’Avola is a Sicilian red wine made on Mazzei’s Zisola Estate located approximately 1km from the town of Noto. Nero d’Avola is arguably Sicily’s most famous indigenous red grape and it thrives in the region’s warm and sunny climate.

Zisola is owned by Mazzei who are more famous for their Tuscan wines, including their Chianti from Castello di Fonterutoli, and have invested a significant amount of money in bringing this estate up to their high standards. The estate consists of some 50 hectares with around 21 hectares of vineyards – the rest is set aside for growing olives, citrus fruit and almonds.

The vineyards are located at a height of 130 above sea level and are characterized by medium texture soils, strongly calcareous with a rich backbone. The vines are planted “ad alberello” a free stading bush vine system commonly used in southern Italy and the islands. The vines are kept small and untrellised which suits the poor soils and low rainfall of the region. Nero d’Avola tolerates hot and dry climates well and the long growing season and cooling sea breezes allow the grapes to develop aromatic compounds and ripen fully. The Zisola Estate winery is equipped with temperature-controlled stainless steel vats with a total capacity of 1,000 hectoliters, for fermentation, and 200 barriques of French oak, for aging.

Mazzei Zisola Nero d’Avola Sicilia is hand-harvested, vinified and then aged for 10 months in small French oak 225L barrels, 33% of which are new.