Taste of Sicily Wine Tasting
Beautiful Coastal Inspired Wines
featuring some profound bubbles, fresh whites, and gorgeous chilled reds!
Friday, September 6th
Le Petit Bijou
Call 256-964-7980 to Reserve
Taste of Sicily Wine Tasting
Le Petit Bijou
Friday, September 6
4pm - 6pm, $20
With Special Guest, Robert Gunn of Pinnacle Imports
256-964-7980 to Reserve
2021 Murgo Brut Rose Metodo Classico, Sicily, Italy $34.99
100% Nerello Mascalese, 24 hours skin contact
Secondary fermentation in bottle
Aged on the lees for at least 18 months prior to release
4,000 cases produced
Crushed rocks, curry leaves and mint give way to dried strawberries as the 2021 Brut Rosé Metodo Classico slowly blossoms in the glass. Silky and enveloping, it quickly gains contrast through a saturation of salty minerals as nectarine notes swirl throughout. The 2021 leaves a salty flourish to linger, finishing with medium length and a green apple crunch. I love the complexity within truly engaging Nerello Mascalese sparkler.
2022 Mortellito 'Cala Iancu' Bianco Terre Siciliane, Sicily, Italy $25.99
Straw yellow. The nose is rich in character, withered flowers and tropical fruit. On the palate the wine is very balanced, freshness and softness in perfect harmony. Good persistence. "Calaiancu" is perfect to combine with the flavor of sea urchins or raw tuna.
Dario Serrentino is the driving force behind il Mortellito, a small family-run estate in Val di Noto in the far south-eastern corner of Sicily. For years Dario sold off his grapes to Sicilian natural wine players like Frank Cornelissen and Lamoresca, and only just started to vinify his own grapes in 2014. Calaiancu is his mineral, focused white wine made mostly from Grillo with a small amount of Catarratto. Dario is committed to natural farming but insists on making wines that are not only elegant but also reflect where they come from. Calaiancu captures that perfectly with aromas of fresh oranges, sea spray, and white flowers with a rich texture lifted by great acidity.
2022 Murgo Etna Bianco, Sicily, Italy $23.99
Aromas of jasmine and yellow flowers; plush yet lively, with good acidity; rich, intense citrus and apricot flavors.
The particular conditions of the soils and the micro-climate of Mt. Etna greatly influence this wine’s characteristics. The higher acidity of the Caricante grapes is balanced by the Catarratto grapes, increasing this wine’s complexity. The special finesse of the bouquet and the taste derives from the vulcanic soils of the Etna.
2023 Mortellito 'Cala Niuru' Rosso Terre Siciliane, Sicily, Italy $25.99
Dario Serrentino organically farms 15 hectares of vineyards, plus olive and almond trees, in the Val di Noto, in southeast Sicily. He used to sell all of his fruit - to naturalistas Frank Cornelissen and Lamoresca, among others - but began vinifying and bottling wine as Mortellito in 2014. In a few short years, he's become one of Sicily's most important natural producers. Limestone soils, earlier picking, and a light touch in the cellar yield wines that are fresh, vibrant, and delicious; they're glou-glou with complexity and even a touch of sophistication. Cala Nìuru (“black grapes” in Sicilian) is 75% Frappato and 25% Nero d’Avola from 5 hectares, guyot for Frappato and alberello for Nero d’Avola. 15-20 days of fermentation. 12.5% alc. This is a light-bodied, beautifully fresh red that you can chill as much as you're in the mood for and that even works with fish.
2023 Murgo Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy $18.99
100% Nerello Mascalese from 30+ year old vines. Fruit is hand-harvested and destemmed before fermentation and aging, which takes place exclusively in stainless steel. A classically floral and high acid Nerello from the sandy slopes of Mount Etna. 5,000 cases produced.
This wine expresses the true characteristics of Nerello Mascalese grown on the eastern slope of Etna.
The specific microclimate is affected by the influence of the Ionian Sea, which contributes great finesse and elegant complexity, which can be attributed to the balanced and refined flavors of this variety.
2023 Occhipinti SP 68 Rosso, Sicily, Italy $29.99
Arianna Occhipinti has been a trailblazer in Sicilian natural winemaking. 21 years old when she released her first vintage in 2004, she has since gained a cult following in the biodynamic movement. Arianna started becoming involved with wine at the young age of 16 in her uncle Giusto Occhipinti's cellar – one of the proprietors of Vittoria's most famous winery, COS. \
The 2023 SP68 Rosso is a blend of 70% frappato and 30% nero d’Avola grown on red sand over limestone rock. After a two week maceration in concrete tanks with pump overs and gentle punchdowns, the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered. A lovely entry into Occhipinti’s signature style, this is beautifully aromatic with layers of roses, violets, ripe strawberries, raspberries, and cracked white pepper. A medium bodied palate offers pure sweet wild berry flavors accented with gentle citrus and herbal notes, all underpinned with lively acidity. The end result is an easy going elegance at home with any number of culinary pairings. Organically grown, biodynamically grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.