2022 COS Cerasuolo di Vittoria

COS is a pioneering winery in Vittoria, southeastern Sicily, founded in 1980 by Giambattista Cilia, Cirino Strano, and Giusto Occhipinti. This organic estate helped revive Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Sicily's only DOCG, established in 2005. The Classico is a 60% Nero d'Avola and 40% Frappato blend from sandy limestone soils unique to the Vittoria plateau. The wine is co-fermented spontaneously in amphora, then aged in cement to achieve a silky, mid-weight texture. A benchmark natural wine that captures the sun-drenched character of this historic viticultural area, dating back to the city's founding in 1607.

$38.00

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Specs

Type: Red

Grapes: Nero d'Avola, Frappato

Winemaker: Giusto Occhipinti and Titta Cilia

Vintage: 2022

Geography

Country: Italy

Region: Sicily

Sub-region: Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG

Farming

Certified organic since 2007, biodynamic (not certified). Hand-harvested. Dry-farmed with cover crops during winter months including fava bean, field pea, clover, vetch, buckwheat, and chickpea. Vines average 25 years of age. Vineyards located on a flat plateau at 650-850 feet elevation with red sand soil approximately 2 feet deep with dense white limestone below surface.

Harvest

Hand-harvested; vines average 25 years of age; destemmed fruit

Fermentation

Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous/wild yeast in open concrete tanks; co-fermented in amphora (terracotta giare, inspired by ancient Georgian qvevri traditions); extended skin contact with 15-20 days maceration; pump overs during fermentation

Aging

Aged in 4000L Slavonian oak botti for 1 year followed by 1 year in concrete; minimum 6 months in bottle before release; no fining, mild filtration with 2-3 micron filter (vegan); low sulfur addition: 2-3 ppm at racking, 10-20 ppm at bottling