Maroccoli Single Vineyard Syrah, Sicilia Menfi DOC

Maroccoli Single Vineyard Syrah, Sicilia Menfi DOC

  • Sicilia Menfi DOC, 
  • Sicily, 
  • italy

Latest Awards

  • 91 points Wine Spectator , February 2024
  • 92 points James Suckling , September 2023
Background

Planeta’s journey began at Sambuca di Sicilia, on the estate owned by the family since the 1600s. Here, three enthusiastic young Sicilians, Alessio, Francesca and Santi Planeta, under the guidance of Diego Planeta, began their winemaking venture in the mid-1980s. Subsequent years were spent matching the extraordinarily diverse Sicilian soils with both indigenous and international varieties. Planeta today encompasses six distinct wine estates in five regions across Sicily; Ulmo at Sambuca di Sicilia, Dispensa at Menfi, Dorilli at Vittoria, Buonivini at Noto, Sciara Nuova on Etna at Castiglione di Sicilia, and the newest addition, La Baronia at Capo Milazzo. Each vineyard site is carefully cultivated with grapes that best compliment the local terroir. All of the company’s activities have a single theme; environmental sustainability.

TERROIR & VINTAGE NOTES

From the sea to the hills, up to an altitude of 400 metres, the Menfi territory holds the largest extent of our vineyards. We cultivate more than 250 hectares, with a careful selections of vines, both indigenous and international varieties, to the specifics of each terroir. Syrah is a noble Mediterranean grape thrives in bright dry places like Sicily. This interpretation of Syrah is produced in a modern style, respecting all the characteristics of the vine. The soil is rich with pebbles and moderately chalky with abundant limey sections. An extraordinary micro-climate exists with breezes coming from the sea which is only a few kilometers away.

Winemaking & Aging

Harvest took place between September 12th – 15th. The Syrah was gathered by hand and were pressed and destemmed, then the must was placed in stainless steel vats where the alcoholic fermentation begins. The grapes were agitated twice a day with very short pumping, to protect the skins and enhance the complexity of the wine. After 5–7 days fermentation, the tanks were filled with wine from the same vines, to macerate for 18–20 days with the skins in contact with the wine, and decanted at the finish.

Tasting Notes

Sweet oriental spices and a faint memory of toasted cocoa accompany the wine in all its tasting phases, opening with distinct and sunny black fruit, then more wintery notes of leather and hummus. A captivating hint recalling the consistency of velvet with a finish of mint and black pepper.

93
Points

The 2019 Maroccoli is impossible to ignore. It blossoms in the glass with a mentholated mix of dried strawberries, dusty rose and autumnal spice. This is sleek and racy in style, with cooling minerality and brisk acidity that lifts its dark red berry fruits. A coating of fine tannins adds youthful poise as nuances of red plum and inner earth tones slowly fade. The Maroccoli, a varietal Syrah, is gorgeous yet geared for the cellar. Lose this for two to three years for the best effect. -E.G.

Vinous - June 2023

92
Points

Berry with dark tobacco and lead pencil aromas that follow through to a medium body and a juicy finish. Linear and tight tannins. Needs a year or two to open up. Drink after 2025. -J.S.

James Suckling - September 2023

91
Points

Features fine-grained tannins that create a lightly grippy, defined frame for a plush, juicy range of baked damson plum and black cherry fruit, ground coffee, violet, sage and star anise flavors. Medium- to full-bodied and well-knit, with minerally accents of iron and smoke on the finish. Syrah. Drink now through 2030. 2,167 cases made, 50 cases imported. -A.N.

Wine Spectator - February 2024

Appellation

Sicilia Menfi DOC

grape varieties

100% Syrah

Sizes

750ml

technical details
  • ABV: 13.5%
  • TA: 5.7 g/l
  • Ph: 3.6
  • Closure: Cork
  • Vegan
winemaker

Patricia Toth

Planeta

Exploring the Full Range of High-Quality Planeta Wines

Nocera Doc
Planeta

Nocera DOC

Sicily Italy 2022
Maroccoli Single Vineyard Syrah, Sicilia Menfi DOC Maroccoli Single Vineyard Syrah, Sicilia Menfi DOC

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