Arianna Occhipinti Grotte Alte Cerasuolo di Vittoria 2010

This is my synthesis of Sicily

That’s how Arianna Occhipinti describes Grotte Alte, her Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico.

The wine spends 40 days on skins and 4 years in 25HL slavonian oak. While perhaps the 2010 Grotte Alte doesn’t have the upfront thrill of recent vintages of Il Frappato, it somehow feels more complete; there’s an obvious tension here alongside the characteristic purity that seems to be captured in all of Arianna’s wines.

With just one year of bottle age under its belt it still feels youthful, although it has a rare drinkability that still makes it approachable now. Spicy and mineral. Brambly with wild red berry fruit. There’s an undeniable sense that this will offer so much more in another 5 years. Will I be able to keep my hands off though?

An incredibly exciting wine.

And just to continue my Sicilian wine and Jamie XX vibe, here’s another song to extend your weekend!