2018 Azienda Agricola COS Contrada Nero d’Avola

Giusto Occhipinti of COS is a benchmark producer in the Vittoria appellation of Sicily, and certainly one of the most important, influential, producers in all of Sicily; if not Italy as a whole. The winery was founded in 1980 by three friends, Giambattista Cilia, Giusto Occhipinti, and Cirino Strano. The initials of their last names form the winery’s name.  The winery itself dates back to the 1880’s, during a period in which there was a huge demand for Sicilian wines. Phylloxera had already devastated many of the world’s top wine-growing regions but it had not yet reached the island at the time. Coming back to Giusto, he has this to say about his vineyard: “the vineyard is like our life’s savings in the bank, so we must protect it.” For them, protecting it means that they work organically and biodynamically in order to support the health of the soil. In fact, they have never used any synthetic or chemical additives in the vineyard since the outset in 1980. Why do we like it? Nero d’Avola is a delicious varietal that can truly become very complex with notes of ripe red cherry, chocolate, and with age, the tannins smooth down while preserving its high level; so characteristic of the Italian reds. Elegant, with notes of dried flowers, tobacco, and even some cured meat. This is a very special wine, with an amazing longevity, a wine that will last several years to come because of the strong structure, high acidity, high tannins, medium body and because of the fact that it has been made biodynamically it just has that resilience for ageing. Grape            Nero d'Avola Country        Italy                                       Region          Sicily Vintage         2018