Feudo Principi di Butera Sanrocco Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
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Intense garnet red. Clean, complex aromas of ripe red fruit and pleasant notes of vanilla and spices. Outstanding harmony and impressive structure. The palate mirrors the nose with emphasis on blackberries and sweet spices. The finish is extremely persistent.
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.
While certainly not one of the hundreds of indigenous Italian varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon has been present in the country since the 1820’s and now encompasses approximately 35,000 acres. Only a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in northern Italy, but notable examples include Angelo Gaja’s Darmagi from Piedmont and San Leonardo (typically a Cabernet blend) from Trentino-Alto Adige. Southern Italy sees more plantings, especially in Sicily, Puglia and Campania; most of these versions are made for everyday consumption and rarely garner widespread attention.
Then there is Tuscany, where Italian Cabernet Sauvignon can rise to impressive levels of quality. It is required in Carmignano, and since 1996 has been permitted in Chianti and Chianti Classico. The grape first shook up the Italian wine world in the early 1970’s, with the release of the so-called “Super Tuscans.” These were wines from the coastal region of Maremma that broke the rules of almost every Tuscan appellation and therefore had to be labeled as “table wine.” The first, Sassicaia, is a blend of Cab with Cabernet Franc. Other notable Italian wines that include Cabernet Sauvignon are Tignanello, Ornellaia and Solaia. These and others bear Cabernet’s signature notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, tobacco, graphite and oak, all supported by impressive structure.