Azienda Agricola Mortilla Estate
The Nicosia family,today, runs the farm or "Azienda Agricola Mortilla", situated on the slopes of the Iblei Mountains in the district of Chiaramonte Gulfi, in the province of Ragusa.
This family after many years of experience in growing various kind of farm produce particular must grapes,citrus fruits, prickly pears,persimmons and olives, conviced the family that it was time they made a decisive contribution towards the rebirth of Sicilian wines.
This particular area is perfect to growing grapes and therefore the innovative changes introduced by the Nicosia family,always ahead of the times and tenacious cultivators of vines for generations, have made it possibile to produce wines with a well defined personality.
The young vines planted and cultivated on their land at Roccazzo represent the determination and commitment towards a long-term method of selection and improvement of the best of the local grape varieties.
This wines were introduced for the first time, at Vinitaly Wine Fair in 2002, gaining recognition and earning a flattering success, enough to encourage and continue the program of company development.
Today the company continues its development with the support and the active inclusion of "young" sons of Guglielmo and Salvatore, a sign of desire and will of the family Nicosia to continue this long and ancient wine tradition.
The Nicosia family, att he end of the 19th Century began to devote itself to growing wine-making.
Handed down secrets and cultures,from their ancestors,for many years,they became qualified in wine-growing and wine-producing-sector.
Among ancestors,can be remembered the brothers Salvatore and Biagio Nicosia , called "Turi and Suzzu re Saraceni" who produced wines in own builts-up area, and they devoted themselves to the transport and selling all over Sicily ,practing the famous job of "Carrettieri" or carters.
In the Sicily's centre, in Enna, joining-place for the trader,
they opened during the forties, a wide wine cellar called "Funnicu" where the carters would stop and where one could commercialize and taste the wine.
The brothers Salvatore and Biagio Nicosia , undertook this activity for many years till when one concluded the age of carters and they continued the activity in their built–up area. In the sixties, Salvatore'son, Carmelo, increased the activity, purchased small pieces of round in Roccazzo and he continued the production till when his sons, Guglielmo and Salvatore,
the currents owners with their father, planned the restructuring of the old wine-farm.
Insolia or Ansonica: ancient vine of Sicily, it has been no doubt the prince of the Sicilian cellars, before Sicily became earth of election of the great red wines of native grapes and from international grapes.This splendid grape, grape wine's daughter,resistent to the drought,and it growed in Sicily always and it spreaded in the course of centuries also in Sardinia ,in Elba Island and Giglio Island,thanks to Greeks merchants. The Insolia express the best itself,with hot and airy climates,vinificated in pureness,give full-bodied wines and wines of long ageing,but today the tendency is that of combine-it to grape of out place of origin for example the Chardonnay and together with native grapes to make wines of distinct international flavor but that at the same time,express a strong sicilian connotation ;moreover it belongs to composition of nine Sicilian D.O.C wine. The Insolia is straw-yellow colored with green hues, spacious and subtle bouquet, with good intensity; in the flavor result full-bodied,of great structure, in particular are very appreciated the fresh sensations of the Insolia, in harmony with the traces of fruit dry. Today, the secret adopted by Mortilla agrarian farm is select rigorously the grapes them turn originated from a valuable particulary clone "the Dama Sciandone" ,and treat the native wines, as just the Insolia, in the same manner of that internationals and noblest wine.
Quercia nelle Langhe Barbaresco is 100% Nebbiolo.
From the famous “Serra Capelli” vineyards on the Serra Capelli hills in Neive.
Beautiful, intense garnet red, Its bouquet is fruity and spicy, with reminiscences of raspberries and blueberries, and hints of vanilla and cocoa.
Full, enchanting and elegant taste, with a good body
Quercia nelle Langhe Gavi is 100% Cortese.
Straw yellow with greenish reflections. The bouquet is fruity with hints of daisy and acacia flowers.
Citrus notes can be detected on the palate; Fruity charming, fresh and elegant taste.
Hand-picked during the first ten days of September.
The grapes are delicately pressed and the stalks are removed.
The must ferments in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature of 18°–20°C for about 20 days.
After fermentation, the wine is kept in stainless steel vats until the bottling.
Quercia nelle Langhe Nebbiolo Langhe is 100% Nebbiolo.
Garnet red, bouquet is fruity with reminiscences of violets and raspberries.
Full bodied, interesting and intense.
Manual Harvest at the beginning of October.
The grapes are delicately pressed and the stalks are removed. The limpid must ferment in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature of 26°C for 12 days. After racking the new wine is put into 25 and 30 hl Slavonian oak barrels for long months. Next, it is bottled for reaching the market.
Pairs well with ribeye, red meats.
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
Clos des Cazaux Gigondas Le Souiras is 100% Grenache.
“Le Souiras” is the terroir located at the very South end of the Gigondas appellation. Here, in the midst of the Dentelles de Montmirail, an extraordinary calcareous massif, we planted grapevines on slopes surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation.
We are situated at an altitude of 250 meters, where the nights are cooler. The terroir is stony with a layer of grey and blue clay under the topsoil. The slopes face West and are protected from the strong summer sun by the Montmirail hill. Due to this ideal microclimate, our old Grenache grapevines contain all the complexity and balance of this sunny terroir.
Color : Dark intense ruby color.
Bouquet : Notes of little red fruits, white pepper, caramel and juniper.
Palate : The first impression is arresting and generally qualified as round, complex and dense.
The aromas of black cherry, mocha and white pepper are very intense. The palate is powerful, elegant and velvety.
The finish is long, with very silky tannins and a very slight bitterness that gives this exceptional Grenache an impression of freshness.
Review:
"A brilliant wine that has so much to love, the 2022 Gigondas Le Souiras is all Grenache that was brought up in barrels. It exhibits a vivid ruby hue as well as classic kirsch and blackberry fruit intermixed with peppery garrigue, spice, and ample Provençal nuances. This medium-bodied, fresh, focused 2022 has a beautiful sense of elegance, fine tannins, and the balance to evolve gracefully over the coming 10-12 years."
- Jeb Dunnuck (December 5th 2024), 94 pts