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October 2011 Classic, Limited and Vinters Series Wine Tastings Catarratto Ansonica, 2010. Anthilia
The name Donnafugata, literally "woman in flight," refers to the history of Queen Maria Carolina, wife of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, who fled Naples in the early 1800s on the arrival of Napoleon's troops seeking refuge in the part of Sicily where the winery's vineyards now stand. This event inspired the Donnafugata logo, the effigy of a woman's head with windblown hair found on every bottle Anthilia is the name of a wine that is identified with the ancient territory where it originates. It is the first wine to have been conceived at Donnafugata and it remains today a special favorite of many admirers. It is composed of Catarratto, Ansonica, and other grapes according to the vintage. The vineyard's average planting density is 2,000 vines per acre. This is twice the normal planting density of most vineyards and though very expensive to plant and cultivate, produces intense wines, as each vine is responsible for half the amount of the normal production of a less densely planted vineyard. The average production is about 3.4 tons an acre, which is quite small and further intensifies the flavors. The grapes are fermented at controlled temperatures and the wine ages in the bottle for at least two months before release to the market. This guarantees the fresh fruit character of the wine. Catarratto is used primarily for production of the famed Marsala of Sicily. It is the second most planted grape here. Overproduction of Marsala caused it to be used to produce a dry white, which it has become-much to the surprise of all involved-and justifiably successful. The wine shows a precise personality of fruity and floral sensations, round and elegant. Notes of yellow peaches and apricot mix with the slate and tight finish. On the palate, tastiness and softness unite. Perfect if combined with lightly smoked fish, tuna salad, eggplant rolls and stuffed mussels. October 2011 Limited Series Newsletter (.pdf) The Limited Series for October 2011 from Wine of the Month Club on Vimeo. |
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