About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The Grillo comes from 12 ha in Contrada Samperi, Marsala, in western Sicily. The vineyards lie on flat, medium-textured calcareous-sandy soil. Vines were 19–41 years old and trained on Guyot vertical trellises at 3,500 plants per hectare. Yield was 25 hl/ha.
Grapes
100% Grillo.
Vinification
The grapes were harvested manually in small crates during the last ten days of September and selected by hand. After soft pressing and natural sedimentation, fermentation took place traditionally in oak and chestnut barrels at ambient temperature. Part of the fresh must was enriched with grape spirit from the same variety to prepare the mistelle used for fortification.
Ageing
Technical specifications give more than 20 years in oak barrels of various sizes. The wine’s history describes a longer evolution of more than 35 years in oak and chestnut barrels.
Technical data
Marsala Superiore Oro Riserva DOC, semi-dry. Alcohol: 19% vol. Residual sugar: 60 g/l. Total acidity: 8.60 g/l. Total SO₂: 20 mg/l. Production: 3,280 bottles.
Tasting profile
Austere and elegant, with a semi-dry profile. Ripe-fruit and walnut notes lead into a saline finish. The natural mistelle contributes complexity that continues to develop with time.
Serving and pairing
Pair with blue cheeses or sophisticated desserts.
Label / history
Marco De Bartoli began making his interpretation of Marsala Superiore in 1986, following the historical winemaking traditions of the area. The 1988 reserve is presented as a meeting of past and future in which long maturation is the defining element.
