Reseca - 2017
Gulfi
- Region
- Italy 禄 Sicilia 禄 IGP Terre Siciliane
- Type
- red still, dry
- Producer
- Gulfi
- Vintage
- 2017
- Grapes
- Nerello Mascalese
- Alcohol
- 13
- Sugar
- 0.2
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Cellar
- not available
From the northern slopes of Etna, in the municipality of Randazzo, comes a wine with deep roots in the region's volcanic history. The "Vigna Poggio" vineyard, spanning a generous 1.5 hectares within the Monte la Guardia section of Randazzo, boasts century-old vines. Trained in the traditional alberello system, these vines are supported by chestnut stakes and enjoy a planting density of 10,000 vines per hectare. They flourish on terraces crafted from volcanic stone, set against the enchanting backdrop of a chestnut forest.
Viticulturally, the vineyard follows traditional Etna methods, strictly adhering to organic practices and opting for non-irrigation. Positioned 800 meters above sea level, the vines thrive in a cool and breezy climate, deeply rooted in the area's characteristic volcanic soil. These conditions nurture the 100% Nerello Mascalese grapes, which produce an annual yield of 60 quintals per hectare.
The vinification process pays homage to the region's winemaking traditions. Harvested between the first and second week of October, the grapes undergo an extensive maceration with their skins to produce a red wine of distinction. Following malolactic fermentation, the wine finds its way into 500-liter French oak tonneaux for a maturation period of at least two years. This aging process is further extended with a minimum of two more years in the bottle, ensuring a wine that truly embodies the spirit and essence of its Etna heritage.
Ratings
4.0路@Garage 路 Gulfi: enduring romance
Bursting onto the scene with cherry and red flowers, followed by a cheeky sprinkle of chocolate crumbles, black currant, smoke, and a dash of crushed gravel for good measure. It's round, sporting good tannin, though leans a tad on the dry side. Despite its youth, it carries itself with a sort of grace; it's not just a pretty face. A beauty with solid character, this one's got a promising road ahead, and it's already turning heads.
Gulfi
The fact that my relations with Sicilian wines are special might be something obvious. But not many people know that it all started with Gulfi stand at the very first Kyiv Wine festival. When we met, I was already tired (e.g. drunk). I almost passed by, disgusted by my own weakness, when a Gulfi representative (apologies, I don't remember her name) stopped me and offered a glass of their wine. I looked at the representative welcoming face. I looked at the naked ass on the label. And I realised there are no reasons to reject this present from Dionysus. And even though I don't remember which wines I tasted exactly, the Gulfi imprint is what I took out of that overly drunk day.
It is worth mentioning that the naked ass on the label has a meaning. A meaning close enough to what one might think. Meet an ancient mosaic from Villa Romana del Casale located in Piazza Armerina in the province of Enna. This mosaic depicts Eros (Cupid) and Psyche (Beauty). According to the story, out of envy of Venus, they are forced to love each other in secret. But passion rarely goes unnoticed, and in their case, it found a physical manifestation (no puns) in the form of a daughter (no puns, seriously) they called Vulptas (literally meaning 'pleasure'), a goddess of sensual pleasures. And how does it connect to Gulfi? Sicily is Psyche, Gulfi is Eros, and their child is wine, a sensual pleasure.