Vineyard and terroir

Sito dell’Ulmo is a single-vineyard Merlot from Ulmo, beside Lake Arancio in Sambuca di Sicilia. The vines were planted in 1987 at 195 metres above sea level. The medium-textured soil ranges from medium to substantial depth and contains an abundant structure of pebbles. It is moderately calcareous, with sections of darker, organic-rich earth.

The vineyard is planted at 4,545 vines per hectare and trained as an espalier with Guyot pruning. The 2021 yield was 85 quintals per hectare. Cultivation follows organic-agriculture principles and SOStain® protocols. Berseem clover, subterranean clover, beans, vetch, mustard and spontaneous plants provide ground cover. Vine health is managed with minimal quantities of sulphur and copper, while beneficial insects and sexual-confusion techniques are used against pests.

Grapes

100% Merlot. The wine comes from the Ulmo single vineyard; its first vintage was 1995.

Vinification

For the 2021 vintage, harvesting took place from 15 to 21 September. The grapes were picked by hand into 15 kg crates and delivered immediately to the Ulmo winery. They were crushed and destemmed before the must entered stainless-steel tanks for alcoholic fermentation.

Fermentation lasted 6–8 days. The temperature was held near 16 °C initially, raised to 20–22 °C during the second phase and allowed to reach 25–26 °C toward completion as refrigeration was stopped. Short pump-overs lasting 15–20 minutes were carried out two or three times daily, depending on the fermentation stage, to handle the skins gently and preserve complexity. After fermentation, the wine was drawn off, separated from the lees and transferred to French-oak barriques. Malolactic fermentation took place entirely in barrel.

Ageing

The wine matured for 14 months in Allier oak barriques: 50% new, 25% second use and 25% third use. The 2021 vintage was bottled in June 2023 with a single-piece natural cork.

Technical data

The 2021 vintage has 14% alcohol, total acidity of 6.33 g/L and a pH of 3.38. Available bottle formats are 0.75 L, 1.5 L, 3 L, 5 L, 9 L and 12 L; the standard 0.75 L bottle weighs 500 g.

Tasting profile

Compact ruby in colour. The aromatic profile combines sweet blackcurrant and candied violet with thyme and lavender. The palate is intense and savoury, built around lively, multifaceted tannins. Its layered red-wine character joins supple tannic pleasure to an exceptionally persistent finish.

Serving and pairing

Suitable for drinking on its own or with white meats served in complex sauces. It can also accompany delicately cooked fish without lemon, including fish served with roasted green vegetables. It may be enjoyed immediately or cellared for up to 10 years.

Vintage notes

The 2021 agricultural year brought rainfall approximately 40% below the ten-year average, requiring irrigation. Budbreak was slightly early, although spring did not accelerate the season further; harvest ultimately began about one week ahead of normal. Summer included some very hot days, but fewer extremes than years such as 2017. Rain in June, July and August was unusually plentiful for a Sicilian summer, alternating with dry conditions suitable for harvesting and moderating the effects of heat.

Menfi produced particularly strong results in 2021, especially among the red French varieties. Merlot showed excellent colour and tannin quality. The grapes were healthy, while crop size fell between the levels of 2020 and 2018 and was broadly consistent with a regular harvest.

Label / history

Experience with the estate’s vineyards identified the Merlot planted at Ulmo in 1987, beside Lake Arancio, as the site best suited to this interpretation of the variety. Sito dell’Ulmo debuted with the 1995 vintage.