2008 Arianna Occhipinti Il Frappato

2008 Arianna Occhipinti Il Frappato

Me gusta Frappato….it just seems to strike a chord with me as a wine drinker…it is a grape variety predominately planted in Sicily where it is seen most often as a component of Sicily’s only DOCG, Cerasuolo di Vittoria…which for the record consists of 30-50% Frappato and 50-70% Nero D’Avola.

It’s lineage is shady, but it’s thought to be a cross of Sangiovese and some, yet to be indentifed variety. It tends to be sapid, light in body, high in acid…..focussed, nimble and nervy like a shadowboxing Manny Pacquiao, ducking and weaving across the palate.

Arianna Occhipinti hails from the Vittoria region of Southern Sicily. She studied her art under the watchful eye of her uncle, Giusto Occhipinti, who is owner of the famous COS estate. The vineyards Arianna souces fruit from are run biodynamically and she’s a young’un….in her twenties and destined to become a star of the region….in fact….scrub that…..she already is a star of the region and  hipsters wax lyrically of her wines on various internet forums where they discus such vinous philately.

The winemaking is hands off…..natural fermentations, no temperature control, no fining or filtration and minimal SO2 at bottling.

It’s sit’s ruby red in the glass with an almost Pinot-like stare. Aromatically, it is as fresh as a daisy….vibrant and perfumed with vivid red berry and cherry fruit, bathed in spice, flowers, minerals and earth.

It’s the wines focus and shape on the palate that grabs me….light in body, precise and sapid with a beautiful line of spicy red fruits and minerals. It’s graceful, airy and spacious poised just so with an elegant lean. Great snappy drinking and brilliant with food.

Price: $65-ish

Closure: Cork

Alcohol: 13%

Frappato makes you strong....chicks dig it