2014COSNero2014 COS, Nero d’Avola, Nero di Lupo, Terre Siciliane IGP Rosso, Sicily, Italy.
Giusto Occhipinti’s COS Nero di Lupo 2014 is an amazingly pure expression of Nero d’Avola from the Vittoria region of Sicily, it is a natural old world wine that delivers delicacy, freshness and style. Giusto’s winemaking has refined over the years and I believe 2014 is the first year without the use of wood at all, he uses organic farming, native yeast fermentations and aging in cement as here with the Nero di Lupo and amphora, with his Pithos bottlings seeing all amphora, both white and red. The results are wonderfully vibrant wines with loads of character and mineral charms, lower natural alcohols, as with this Nero di Lupo which comes in at 12.5% giving more a Beaujolais like feel rather than a Shiraz, and they show a brilliant clarity. The 2014 COS Nero di Lupo starts with mixed berries, wild herbs, pepper, light floral notes and red earth leading to a vibrant palate of fine texture, light tannins and lifting acidity that highlights plum, huckleberry, black cherry and tart red currant fruits as well as traces of dusty stones, anise, strawberry/rhubarb, tangy orange rind, red peach and earthy blueberry. The latest COS is absolutely impeccable and delightfully light to medium weighted, drink over the next 3 to 5 years, along with his niece Arianna Occhipinti, Giusto is redefining the expectations and varietal profiles of Frappato and Nero d’Avola, these are glorious and impressive wines well worth searching out!
($32 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive

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