LA VOTA

Along the western border of Tenuta Belicello, the course of Belice River makes a loop, which we use to call “La vota”. Here the soil is sandy and deep, where we have planted the Cabernet Sauvignon, with a yield limited to less than 8 tons per hectare. Red roses planted close to the vineyards help us identify mould infections before they eventually become serious. The vintage has been fresh and pleasant: abundant rains during winter and spring and mild temperature in summer times assure a slow and perfect ripening of the grapes.
Our impressions: The wine has a brilliant red ruby colour, with a distinct garnet hue. To the nose, balsamic notes of green mint merge into a persistent bouquet of berries, liquorice and brown tobacco. On the palate, it is warm and full bodied, with silky tannins and a long and persistent finish of chocolate and coffee powder.
 
Type of wine: Red
Appellation: Menfi DOC
Production area: Tenuta Belicello, F. 145, p. 68
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
Number of bottles produced: 9,500
Soil type: Deep alluvial sandy soil, with a strong influence from the nearby river
Planting year: 1999
Yield per hectare: 7.5 tons - 1.8 Kg per vine
Planting density: 4,300 vines/hectare
Training system: Vertical trellis
Pruning system: Spur pruned cordon
Harvest: End of September
Grape-picking: Manual harvest
Winemaking: The grapes were destemmed and crushed. Maceration on the skins lasted 12 days, and the must was fermented in stainless steel tanks at 25-28 °C
Malolactic fermentation: Completed
Maturation: 15 months in French tonneaux and in one 30 hectolitres cask (Slavonian oak)
Refining: 6 months in bottles
Alcohol content: 14% by Vol
Total acidity: 6.2 g/l
pH: 3.55
Residual sugar: 2 g/l
Taste it with: Lamb’s leg stuffed with aromatic herbs
We also suggest: Pork ham from the Mount Nebrodi area