Feudo Principi di Butera Principi di Butera Merlot 2012
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Feudo Principi di Butera is a state-of-the-art winery situated in the south-eastern part of the Province of Caltanissetta in Sicily and is part of the DOC district of Riesi. The estate is approximately two hours from the city of Palermo, and has a total of 320 hectares, 170 of which are under vine, as well as 3,000 olive trees. Butera is a historical estate, which once belonged to noble families, such as Sicily’s first prince Ambrogio Branciforte. The Prince resided there beginning in the year 1543. More recently, the Zonin family acquired and restored the estate in 1997 after conducting thorough research on the best-suited areas in Sicily for vineyard cultivation. After years of meticulous work the estate has been restored to its original splendor, and its ancient watchtower now offers breathtaking views of the surrounding vineyards. Its proximity to the sea, optimal elevation, abundance of sunlight, and rich soil and hilly terrain, provide the ideal conditions to yield outstanding wines. Butera is steeped in the rich patchwork of history, tradition and extraordinary wines of Sicily.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
A large, geographically and climatically diverse island, just off the toe of Italy, Sicily has long been recognized for its fortified Marsala wines. But it is also a wonderful source of diverse, high quality red and white wines. Steadily increasing in popularity over the past few decades, Italy’s fourth largest wine-producing region is finally receiving the accolades it deserves and shining in today's global market.
Though most think of the climate here as simply hot and dry, variations on this sun-drenched island range from cool Mediterranean along the coastlines to more extreme in its inland zones. Of particular note are the various microclimates of Europe's largest volcano, Mount Etna, where vineyards grow on drastically steep hillsides and varying aspects to the Ionian Sea. The more noteworthy red and white Sicilian wines that come from the volcanic soils of Mount Etna include Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio (reds) and Carricante (whites). All share a racy streak of minerality and, at their best, bear resemblance to their respective red and white Burgundies.
Nero d’Avola is the most widely planted red variety, and is great either as single varietal bottling or in blends with other indigenous varieties or even with international ones. For example, Nero d'Avola is blended with the lighter and floral, Frappato grape, to create the elegant, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, one of the more traditional and respected Sicilian wines of the island.
Grillo and Inzolia, the grapes of Marsala, are also used to produce aromatic, crisp dry Sicilian white. Pantelleria, a subtropical island belonging to the province of Sicily, specializes in Moscato di Pantelleria, made from the variety locally known as Zibibbo.