Chiarandà Contessa Entellina Donnafugata

NAME: Chardonnay Contessa Entellina DOC Sicily.

GRAPES: Chardonnay.

PRODUCTION AREA: south-western Sicily, Contessa Entellina Estate.

LAND AND CLIMATE: altitude from 200 to 600 m s.l.m; hilly orography; clayey soils with sub-alkaline reaction (pH from 7.5 to 7.9) rich in nutrients (potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc) and total limestone from 20 to 35%. Mild winters; dry and windy summers with strong temperature changes between day and night.

VINEYARD: counter-espalier farming with spurred cordon pruning, leaving 6 to 8 buds per plant. Density of 5,000 - 6,000 plants / hectare, with yields of about 50 -60 quintals / ha

VINTAGE: in the 2017 vintage 555 mm * of rain were recorded, a figure that is a little below the average of 662 mm **. The rains were concentrated mainly in autumn and winter and therefore, in June and July, emergency irrigations were carried out; the vines have thus been able to complete the vegetative-productive cycle on a regular basis. Temperatures, particularly between July and August, were higher than the seasonal averages and this led to a 1-2 week advance of the maturation periods of all the cultivated varieties. Despite the peaks of maximum temperatures, in this summer period, the good temperature changes between day and night have given healthy grapes and with an excellent aromatic and phenolic maturation. * At Contessa Entellina the pluviometric data for each year are calculated from 1 October to 30 September of the following year and are reported by the SIAS, Sicilian Agrometeorological Service; ** average calculated from the 2003 harvest to 2017.

HARVEST: manual harvesting in boxes with careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard. The Chardonnay destined for the production of Chiarandà was harvested in the first decade of August.

VINIFICATION: the fermentation is carried out in steel at a temperature of 16-17 ° C. Aging 8 months on the noble feccino, part in oak (65%, first and second passage barriques) and part in cement tanks (35%); finally in the bottle for at least 14 months.

ANALYTICAL DATA: alcohol 13.35% vol., Total acidity 5.4 g / l., PH: 3.27

TASTING NOTES (2/7/2019): straw yellow color, it offers a complex bouquet with notes of yellow pulp fruit (peach), wild flowers (broom) and elegant hints given by long aging (hazelnuts and butter). In the mouth it is ample and structured, with a pleasant savory and mineral texture. A white with long persistence, rich in nuances and with great aging potential.

LONGEVITY: over 15 years.

FOOD & WINE: ideal with fish dishes, even smoked, and white meats; to try with risottos, legumes and medium-aged cheeses. Serve it in large glasses of good height. Excellent at 11 - 13 ° C.

DIALOGUE WITH ART: born in 1992 as Chiarandà del Merlo from the name of the two vineyards in which the grapes used for its production are produced. After 10 years the name is simplified into Chiarandà and the label is enriched with a female presence that tells its complexity and refinement.

FIRST VINTAGE: 1992.

Bottled at the origin by the Azienda Agricola DONNAFUGATA S.r.l. - MARSALA - ITALY