Pillitteri Estates Twice Pressed Racina 2017
Racina, a Sicilian word, translates simply to “grapes”. An intense, flavourful, red wine with Corvina as the dominant grape. A never before tried blend that shows well. The initial aroma hits your nose with robust assertiveness. Cherry, Raspberry, mint, leather and stewed fruits are the dominant character. While subtle nuances of black and white pepper dance around the edges. The palate mimic’s the nose with an added weight from the repassing of the juice over the 2020 Cabernet Franc skins.
The repassing technique is a traditional process in Italy, we have adopted to bolster the intensity and colour of this wine. The skins were then pressed again to extract that remaining character that was added to the blend. The Appassimento Cabernet Franc blended in shows most on the finish, adding length and weight. The result is a full-bodied wine with a lengthy finish and heavy tannins that should smooth out with age. A wine suited to mellow over time, an experiment that passed the test.
41% Corvina Appassimento, 38% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc Appassimento