Vigneti Zabu Il Passo Nerello Mascalese 2024

Vigneti Zabu Il Passo Nerello Mascalese

Region: Sicily, Italy

Vintage: 2024

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Nerello Mascalese

ABV: 13%

This Nerello Mascalese is bright ruby red in colour. On the nose, there are intense aromas of red fruit, combined with spicy notes of coffee and chocolate. On the palate, it is vibrant and well balanced with soft tannins and a long, silky finish.

The Vigneti Zabù vineyards were first planted in 2005 on the hills that surround Lake Arancio in Sambuca di Sicilia. Situated at an altitude of 400-600 metres above sea level, the soils are predominantly limestone, which provide excellent drainage. The crystal-clear waters of the nearby lake creates an ideal microclimate for viticulture and protects the vines from the relentless heat of a Sicilian summer.

The grapes were destemmed and gently crushed, followed by light pressing to avoid over-extraction of tannins. Fermentation on the skins occurred at controlled temperatures of around 24–25°C for 10–12 days, with regular pump-overs every four hours to ensure balanced extraction. Malolactic fermentation was completed in concrete tanks, after which the wine was aged in American oak for four to six months, adding structure and subtle spice while preserving the purity of the fruit.

Vigneti Zabù, in southern Sicily, is part of the Fantini group, founded by Valentino Sciotti in 1994 to produce top-quality wine from southern Italy. In 2005, Valentino and his and Sicilian winemaker Giuseppe Alfano Burruano planted their own vineyards on the hills around Lake Arancio, in Sambuca di Sicilia. Here, the untouched landscape boasts many ancient vineyards and proximity to the lake creates a perfect microclimate for grape growing. Their vines are planted at 400 metres above sea level on clay soils with good water retention capacity, which helps sustain the vines through Sicily’s hot summers. Today, these vines continue to flourish, lending themselves to attractive, drinkable wines.