Tancredi 2017 DONNAFUGATA 750ml

Tancredi 2017
DENOMINATION: Red - Terre Siciliane IGT.
GRAPES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d'Avola; the blend is completed with Tannat and other grapes.
PRODUCTION AREA: South-western Sicily, Contessa Entellina estate and surrounding areas.
SOILS AND CLIMATE: Altitude from 200 to 400 m above sea level; hilly terrain; clay loam soils with sub-alkaline reaction (pH from 7.5 to 7.9), rich in nutrients (potassium,
magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc) and total limestone from 20 to 35%. Mild winters; dry, windy summers with large temperature differences between day and
night.
VINEYARD: counter-espalier training with spurred cordon pruning, leaving 6 to 8 buds per plant. Plant density from 4,500 to 6,000 plants per hectare with yields of about
50-60 quintals/ha.
YEAR: Contessa Entellina recorded 555 mm of rain in 2017, which is slightly below the average* (661 mm) for this area. The rainfall was concentrated mainly in the autumn
and winter and therefore, in June and July, relief irrigation was carried out; the vines were thus able to complete their vegetative-productive cycle in a regular manner.
Temperatures, particularly between July and August, were higher than the seasonal averages, which led to an advance of 1-2 weeks in the ripening periods of all the varieties
grown. During this period of the summer, the good temperature fluctuations between day and night gave healthy grapes with excellent aromatic and phenolic ripening. In
addition, there was a drop in quantity of around 15% compared to the company average. Thanks to careful management of agronomic practices and vinification, the quality of
the vintage is certainly positive: ideal phenolic ripening gave fine and elegant reds. * The rainfall figures are calculated from 1 October to 30 September of the following year;
** The average is calculated from the 2003 harvest)
HARVEST: Manual harvesting in boxes with careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard. Harvesting of the grapes destined for Tancredi began in the last ten days of
August with the Nero d'Avola followed by the harvesting of the Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon in the first ten days of September.
WINE-MAKING: On receipt at the winery, the bunches are selected on the vibrating table and then the grapes are destemmed using a latest-generation destemming
machine that rejects green and overripe grapes. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with maceration on the skins for about 14 days at a temperature of 28°-30° C.
Maturation for 13-14 months in French oak barriques (new and second passage) and at least 14 months in bottle.
ANALYTICAL DATA: alcohol 13,66 % vol., total acidity: 5,5 g/l., pH: 3,65
TASTING NOTES (12/02/2020): With an intense ruby red colour, Tancredi 2017 combines notes of ripe red fruit (currant and plum) and balsamic (eucalyptus) with delicate
hints of cocoa and sweet tobacco. On the palate it has an excellent structure with important and perfectly integrated tannins; a fresh drink with a very long retro-olfactory
persistence.
LONGEVITY: over 20 years.
FOOD & WINE: With steak, signature burgers and game; also excellent on fillet of beef with mushrooms. Can be uncorked at the moment if served in large glasses with a
wide mouth and good height. Excellent at 18°C.
WHEN YOU WISH: To live a refined sensory experience. Share your passion for elegant, long-lived wines. To live a moment of true beauty.
DIALOGUE WITH ART: Do you remember the Tancredi played by Alain Delon in the famous film that Visconti made from 'The Leopard' by Giuseppe Tomasi di
Lampedusa? This wine represents his elegance and 'revolutionary' ambition. The label features an illustration by artist Stefano Vitale who dedicated the work to Giacomo
Rallo, visionary captain of Donnafugata. Contessa's winery is there, in the clouds as if it were a mirage. Above right, the beloved village of Sambuca di Sicilia where some of
the vineyards that contribute to the Tancredi blend are located. They are all there, the places where the memory of the man and his dreams come true remains indelible.
FIRST VINTAGE: 1990.