Rosso Del Conte Tasca D’Almerita 2017 cl 75

Harvest 2017

San Lucio is the first major vineyard identified on the Regaleali Estate, from which the first and subsequent editions of Rosso del Conte were born. It covers about 7 hectares, of which 5.5 hectares were planted in 1959 with mixed Perricone and Nero d’Avola plants, while a portion of about 1.5 hectares was planted in 1965 with Nero d’Avola only. The elevation is 480 meters above sea level, the exposure South – South/East. The soil is yellowish brown, loamy-sandy, partly calcareous, with a slight presence of skeleton; the pH slightly alkaline (8.5). Regaleali’s oldest vineyard usually gives medium vigor to the vines, a prerequisite for balanced ripening for red and medium-late grapes. It is able to withstand the influence of extreme climates, whether hot or cold, and produces a few grams of grapes per plant of incredible quality consistency. It is grown in the tree form, the oldest and most widespread form of cultivation in the semi-arid regions of the Mediterranean. Also classic remains the planting density of 4,400 vines per hectare, achieved by arranging the vines at a distance of 1.5 meters apart. In Regaleali for red varieties, short pruning is adopted, with three to four spurs of two buds.
Short pruning is often combined with the presence of a brace to tie off the shoots that develop from the spurs.
The two varieties, Perricone and Nero d’Avola, have similar growing cycles: they are fairly late grapes, ripening on average between late September and early October. A faithful expression of the terroir from which it comes, the high hills in the center of Sicily, on the aromatic level Rosso del Conte never exceeds in overripe notes, while ensuring full phenolic ripeness. Exuberant, vibrant, energetic in youth, with aging it develops a velvety tactile relief without losing tone and flavor progression. In its long history it has experienced different stylistic variations, particularly in aging technique: chestnut barrels, Slavonian oak, small French oak barrels. While still maintaining its peculiar identity.

• Grape varieties: Nero d’Avola (58%), Perricone (42%)
• Appellation: Rosso Contea di Sclafani DOC
• Wine-growing area: Tenuta Regaleali – Palermo – Sicily
• Vineyards: Vigna San Lucio of 8 Ha
• Year of planting: 1965
• Exposure: South-Southeast
• Training system: sapling
• Type of pruning: short spur pruning
• Density of strains per ha: 4.400
• Grape yield per ha: 76 ql
• Harvest time: September 15
• Fermentation: traditional red in stainless steel tanks
• Fermentation temperature: start 20°C and end 28°C
• Length of time in contact with skins: 20 days
• Malolactic fermentation: carried out totally
• Aging: in 225-liter French oak (Allier and Tronçais) barrels, 100% new for 18 months
• Alcohol content: 14.5% Vol.
• Wine analytical data: pH 3.27 – AT 7.12 g/l – ZR 1.2 g/l – ET 34.6 g/l