Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The fruit comes from the Dispensa, Gurra, Maroccoli and Buonivini sites in Menfi and Noto, at elevations of 45–430 m above sea level. Soil profiles vary by site: Maroccoli has limestone soil with little clay and a high proportion of silt; Gurra is very rich in clay; Buonivini has fine-textured soils formed from calcareous marl with a light clay component; and Dispensa has moderately calcareous soil tending towards clay.
Grapes
Nero d’Avola is the principal component of the blend.
Vinification
Harvest takes place from mid-August to mid-September. After destemming and crushing, the grapes are transferred to stainless-steel tanks with capacities of 114, 160 and 213 hl. The must is mixed at least three times daily through short pump-overs lasting 12–25 minutes, according to the stage of fermentation. Fermentation lasts 7–8 days: the temperature is maintained at 16–17 °C initially, then raised to 24–25 °C. The juice is subsequently separated from the skins, and malolactic fermentation occurs in the same tanks.
Ageing
Once malolactic fermentation is complete, maturation on the fine lees begins between November and December in stainless-steel tanks. The 2021 vintage was bottled in February 2023.
Vintage notes
The 2021 harvest in Menfi began on 8 August. Sicily’s 2020 crop had been small but of high quality, leaving the vines with ample energy for the following season. Budbreak was slightly earlier than usual. The summer was very hot, punctuated by several periods of rain that moderated the effects of the heat. Quality expectations were highest in western Sicily, and Cabernet Franc, Merlot and especially Syrah performed particularly well, producing high-quality tannins.
Label / history
The La Segreta range is named after the woodland surrounding Planeta’s Ulmo vineyard in the Menfi area. Its labels carry a decorative map of part of the Ulmo estate, depicting its fruit trees, flowers and vines.
