
Marsala Vergine Superiore Riserva De Bartoli 1988 - 50cl
ArtisanalThe Marsala Superiore Riserva Oro 1988 by De Bartoli is an extraordinary oxidative wine that captures all the marine moods of Sicily. Rarely in the wine world is the association between a region and a surname spontaneous and automatic, but this is the case with Marsala and the name De Bartoli. Although the winery was officially founded in 1978, there are bottles that predate the estate's foundation, including some moving Marsala from 1861, which the luckiest describe as an experience that transcends space and time. Predominantly Grillo grapes, vinified using the famous Soleras method and enriched by a slow oxidation. For lovers of the genre, an electrifying experience.
The Marsala Superiore Riserva Oro 1988 by De Bartoli comes from pure Grillo plants, grown in the now-famous Contrada Samperi, aged between 19 and 45 years. The yield of only 25 hectoliters per hectare allows for the production of few fruits but of extreme quality. After gentle pressing and spontaneous fermentation that takes place in oak and chestnut barrels, fortification occurs with brandy obtained from the same grapes in 1988. Minimal addition of sulfur dioxide.grapes in 1988. Minimal addition of sulfur dioxide. The aging plays the most significant role and lasts, in this case, about 27 years in oak barrels using the Soleras method. 6 months of resting in the bottle before being released for sale.
The Marsala Superiore Riserva Oro 1988 by De Bartoli presents itself in the glass with an enchanting orange hue. The nose is paradigmatic and captivates from the first sniff. It has everything one expects to find in a great oxidative wine, from walnut husk to oriental spices, from orange peel to dried dates, all with the sea of Marsala in the background. The sip is splendid, elongated, and driven by an almost marine salinity as well as a refreshing freshness. Truly unquantifiable persistence. A cyclone.