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.
Dominus Napa Valley Red Blend is made from 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot.
The historic Napanook Vineyard, a 124-acre site west of Yountville, was planted in 1838. This vineyard was the source of fruit for some of the finest Napa Valley wines. Estate-bottled in the spirit of the Bordeaux châteaux, Dominus Estate is dry-farmed to allow natural stress and good concentration of fruit. Grape clusters are crop-thinned to allow sun and air to pass in between, helping to achieve full maturation and soften the tannins. Only 20% to 40% new French oak barrels are used in order to limit the extraction of oak notes. To express the unique terroir, the classic Bordeaux grape varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are planted with different root stocks best suited for the varying soil composition of gravel, heavy clay and loam.
Reviews:
One of the legendary Dominus, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is unquestionably in the same league as the 2018, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2010, and 1991, and to my mind, wine simply doesn't get any better. Sporting a dense purple hue as well as an incredible perfume of blackcurrants, crushed stone, cedar pencil, smoke tobacco, and baking spices, it s rich, full-bodied, and voluptuously textured, with ripe yet building tannins. It reminds me slightly of the 2010 (maybe the 2013), and I suspect it will have a similar evolution. Hide bottles for 7-8 years, and it will evolve gracefully for 30+ years. Hats off to the team of Christian Moueix and director Tod Mostero.
Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points
Far Niente Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 92.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7.4% Petit Verdot
The 2023 Far Niente Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon opens with vibrant aromas of black cherry, black currant, and dark plum, layered with notes of rose petal, caramel, and toasted oak. On the palate, the wine is coating and expansive, unfolding in waves of ripe blackberry, spiced cherry, and cassis. Fine-grained tannins and juicy acidity create balance and lift, while hints of bay leaf, cocoa, and sweet oak weave through the long, supple finish of juicy, spiced cherry.