DonnaFugata Sherazade 2007

Bright, deep ruby red in colour, with youthful violet hints. On the nose it has perfumes which combine red fruit, sour cherries and a mineral note. Full-bodied but still fresh on the palate, the fruit is more blackberries with a touch of chocolate, soft, ripe tannins and a good balance through to the finish.

PRODUCER
The Rallo family have been involved in wine production in Marsala for over 150 years, but were one of the first families to move into the production of high quality table wine when sales of Marsala started to decline. They have two estates in Sicily: 260 hectares at Contessa Entellina in the hills east of Marsala; and 68 hectares on the island of Pantelleria. Their winery in Marsala is ultra modern, and serves to preserve the flavours obtained in the vineyard. The name of this wine derives from ‘Scheherazade’, the legendary Persian queen, main protagonist and storyteller of ‘A Thousand and One Nights’. The wine is made in a lush, spicy style to fit with her exotic personality.

VINEYARDS
Sherazade is made from Nero d’Avola and Syrah grapes planted at approximately 5,000 vines/hectare, trained using a counterespalier system and spur pruned.

VINIFICATION
The Syrah grapes were picked at the end of August and Nero d’Avola a month later. After gentle pressing, the must was fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks with a ten day maceration on the skins at 26-28°C where it remained for two months before bottling. It spends almost three months in bottle before release.

2008      Sélections Mondiales des Vins Canada - 2009     

Silver Medal      Canada  

2007      Decanter Magazine - May 2009     

Red Wine of The Week - A blend of the local and the international – Nero d’Avola and syrah – this wine, from a winery founded in the early ‘80s, offers characters of both grapes. The nose is blessed with spice and red fruit, while the palate follows similar lines, packed with bright cherry and countering savoury streak.   

 

2007      www.decanter.com - April 2009     

Decanter Rating: **** / *****. "An inviting blend of Syrah and Nero d'Avola, boasting mulberry, plum and dough aromas. On the palate, the Syrah brings spice and the Nero d'Avola crisp crunchy red fruit. It's a combination that works surprisingly well."       

2007      www.jancinsrobinson.com - Feb. 26, 2009      16,5/20 pts. - "Fresh ripe raspberry and cherry. Soft balanced with some dark, almost charred fruit characters and a light floral note. Supple tannin, good length." Richard Hemming.