2022 Giuseppe Cipolla 'Occhio di Sale' Rosato Sicilia IGT

95 Nero d’Avola with 5 Catarratto, Inzolia, Zibibbo 

Organic + Biodynamic practices

Contrada Passofonduto is located about 25 kms from Agrigento and the south coast of central Sicily on the edge of the province of Caltanisetta. This is a landscape of steep outcrops that was once a source of salt and sulfur. The mines now lay unused as the demand for rock salt and rock sulfur has moved over to industrial sources. But the richness in these minerals is evident in the soils all around making it a very unique area to cultivate vines. 

The majority of the vines are cultivated in alberello and planted on a very steep hillside of rocky chalk based soils consisting of gypsum, halite, calcareous sulfur and other types of salt deposits from the Messinian period about 5-6 million years ago.

The initial fermentations are done in fiberglass tanks and then blended and aged in stainless steel.

The fruit is faint, more hibiscus or rose water than any red fruit note you might expect from the Nero d'Avola. There is weight on the mid palate, but finishes light and clean.