Maroccoli Single Vineyard Syrah, Sicilia Menfi DOC

Planeta’s journey began at Sambuca di Sicilia, on the estate owned by the family since the 1600s. Here, three enthusiastic young Sicilians, Alessio, Francesca and Santi Planeta, under the guidance of Diego Planeta, began their winemaking venture in the mid-1980s. Subsequent years were spent matching the extraordinarily diverse Sicilian soils with both indigenous and international varieties. Planeta today encompasses six distinct wine estates in five regions across Sicily; Ulmo at Sambuca di Sicilia, Dispensa at Menfi, Dorilli at Vittoria, Buonivini at Noto, Sciara Nuova on Etna at Castiglione di Sicilia, and the newest addition, La Baronia at Capo Milazzo. Each vineyard site is carefully cultivated with grapes that best compliment the local terroir. All of the company’s activities have a single theme; environmental sustainability.

From the sea to the hills, up to an altitude of 400 metres, the Menfi territory holds the largest extent of our vineyards. We cultivate more than 250 hectares, with a careful selections of vines, both indigenous and international varieties, to the specifics of each terroir. Syrah is a noble Mediterranean grape thrives in bright dry places like Sicily. This interpretation of Syrah is produced in a modern style, respecting all the characteristics of the vine. The soil is rich with pebbles and moderately chalky with abundant limey sections. An extraordinary micro-climate exists with breezes coming from the sea which is only a few kilometers away.

Harvest took place between September 12th – 15th. The Syrah was gathered by hand and were pressed and destemmed, then the must was placed in stainless steel vats where the alcoholic fermentation begins. The grapes were agitated twice a day with very short pumping, to protect the skins and enhance the complexity of the wine. After 5–7 days fermentation, the tanks were filled with wine from the same vines, to macerate for 18–20 days with the skins in contact with the wine, and decanted at the finish.

Sweet oriental spices and a faint memory of toasted cocoa accompany the wine in all its tasting phases, opening with distinct and sunny black fruit, then more wintery notes of leather and hummus. A captivating hint recalling the consistency of velvet with a finish of mint and black pepper.