Occhipinti : Frappato 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes for Occhipinti's Frappato 2023

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a ruby red hue with violet highlights.

Nose
The bouquet offers a lively, bright profile, dominated by aromas of red fruits such as blackberry and wild cherry. Floral and spicy notes intertwine with touches of rosewater, anise, white pepper and sage, rounded out by subtle nuances of hay.

Palate
The silky, juicy texture is accompanied by a vibrant acidity. The palate reveals a pronounced mineral backbone, supported by soft tannins. The finish lingers on fruity, smoky and delicately saline notes.

Food and wine pairing

This Italian red wine pairs beautifully with tomato-based dishes, roasted red peppers or preparations featuring sun-dried tomatoes. It also goes wonderfully with roasted poultry, as well as charcuterie and cured meat platters.

Service and storage

The 2023 Frappato is a wine that can be enjoyed as soon as it is opened, while also having the structure needed to evolve favourably in the bottle over time.

The authentic expression of a great red wine from Sicily by the Occhipinti estate

The estate

Founded in 2004 by Arianna Occhipinti, then just twenty-two years old, the Occhipinti estate has established itself as an essential reference in Sicily. Located near Vittoria, the property now spans 22 hectares of vines cultivated according to the principles of biodynamics and organic farming. Still at the helm of the estate, Arianna Occhipinti crafts wines that celebrate the pure expression of terroir and biodiversity. Her environmentally respectful approach and her commitment to native grape varieties have placed the estate among the most highly regarded producers.

The vineyard

The vines dedicated to this cuvée span six hectares in the southeast of Sicily. Around forty years old, they are planted on complex soils composed of solid limestone covered by a thin layer of white sand and clay. This terroir benefits from a warm, dry Mediterranean climate, cooled by the influences of the Hyblean Mountains and the sea. The vineyard is managed without irrigation, with meticulous canopy management to ensure optimal grape quality.

The vintage

The growing season was marked by warm, dry Mediterranean conditions. These climatic characteristics allowed the grapes to reach optimal ripeness while retaining lovely freshness, resulting in a harvest carried out during the first ten days of October.

Winemaking and aging

For the 2023 Frappato, the hand-harvested grapes are crushed and destemmed before undergoing spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts. This process takes place in concrete vats and lasts between twenty-five and thirty days, accompanied by daily pumping-overs and punch-downs. The wine is then aged for six months in these same concrete vats, before being transferred to Austrian oak barrels for an additional twelve months of aging. Bottling is carried out without fining or filtration.

Grape variety

100% Frappato