COS - Sicilia Maldafrica 2010
Pairing Suggestions
COS - Sicilia Maldafrica 2010 (89 tsomw points)
Cabernet and Merlot with a little bit of Nero.
COS is a great natural winery in the Vittoria region of Sicily. Located in the south east corner of the island, Vittoria is the home to the only Sicilian DOCG, Cerasuaolo di Vittoria, which brings together the Nero d’Avola and Frappato varieties to make a really elegant, fresh, expressive red.
COS started when three school friends from Vittoria, decided to start playing with grapes from their parents’ vineyards in 1980. Things grew, and after an ill-advised flirtation with new barriques, they realized that their terroirs were giving them something special, and that it the grapes needed to be handled naturally in the cellar.
Now, as well as using mainly older barrels, they are also famous for the fact that they use 400 litre clay amphorae, sunk into the ground, for some of their red and white wine fermentations.
My tasting notes:
In the glass a dark Burgundy color.
Very expressive bouquet with cuban cigars, herbs, leather, dark berries, sweetness and an almost salty mineral.
Very clear structure, full ripe sweet tannins which incidentally has a lot of freshness, complex flavor with many layers and a great light spicy length.
Better first decanter. Next day even better.