Halara Sicilian Rosso

Six close friends, who's families have been vacationing together for years started this project. They had the opportunity to buy a vineyard together, one that was going to be ripped out, the planting rights of which would probably have been sold to someone for a new vineyard in northern Italy.  So they saved this vineyard, in Contrada Abbadessa in Marsala, which is planted ad alberello to roughly 80% Parpato and 20% Catarratto, 40-year-old vines. Parpato, also called Quattro Rappe, is one of those forgotten grapes, it was thought to be a local biotype of Grenache but it seems now is more similar to Carignan. The project is about this vineyard, a celebration of Mediterranean-ness.  Marsala is essentially the dead-center point of the Mediterranean. On the nose, pleasant notes of black cherry and Mediterranean scrub. Warmth on the palate, where sweet red fruit returns, accompanied by citrus notes reminiscent of blood orange. Dry and fine finish, supported by a nice salinity.