Lamoresca is not your average Sicilian winery. It stands dead south of the center of the island, with the only reference point across the landscape being the smoldering peak of Mt. Etna. Here, winemaker Filippo Rizzo has made his small pied-à-terre into one of the most groundbreaking wineries in Italy. Parcel by parcel, vine by vine, he has worked tirelessly to build the winery we know and love today.
Some of you may recognize these labels, as we've featured his stunning wines in our newsletters before, but these two are especially noteworthy. This is the first release of these wines in the United States and both have been a long time coming. Each is a passion project, seeing extended aging in barrel and bottle before release which has led to unmatched depth, richness and elegance that demonstrate just how far Lamoresca has come. Because of our long time support, we were able to secure the only bottles of Elsa in SC, Filippo's most prestigious wine to date.
For those who already know and love Lamoresca and Sicily, or are looking to dip their toe into some of the best Italy has to offer, look no further than today's bottles. |
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REGULAR 2-PACK PRICE - $125.33
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER PRICE - $119.06
To order, reply directly to this email or call me at 843.576.4845
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Filippo Rizzo makes 'true wine'. That is how he refers to the wines of Lamoresca, his one love besides his wife and partner Nancy. What does this concept mean to him? For Filippo, it's a matter of working and caring for his vines not just as a monoculture, but as a living farm and an extension of his home. The vines total five hectares and are up to 60 years old, planted over a mix of sand and clay at an elevation of 430 metres above sea level. There are rather dramatic differences in temperature between day and night, a real boon in this typically Mediterranean climate.
He learned about low-impact farming while working with friend and fellow winemaker Frank Cornelissen, making wine high on the slopes of Mt. Etna. However, Lamoresca shines beyond just its' vineyards as the techniques utilized by Filippo (modern, natural wine making) are what define his wines, conveying more than an expression of terroir or climate but also precision and care. |
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'Elsa' Rosso 2019 $59.99
60% Nerello Mascalese and 20% each Frappato and Nero d'Avola. 3 weeks of maceration on the skins, 1 year in concrete tanks, 2 years in the bottle, with only 2000 bottles produced. Filippo says the idea is to make a red wine with 3 different soil types, clay, sand, limestone, and 3 different grape varieties, offering a perfect snapshot of Sicily.
A stunning ruby in the glass, 'Elsa' opens with layered aromas of ripe red cherry, rosemary, and earth playfully intermingled. On the palate, time has rendered a deep, savory and complex wine with more red fruit, herbs and a briny minerality all combining to beautiful effect. Textural, concentrated, effusive and ethereal, this is one of Lamoresca's first 'riserva' wines, and the effort and time spent shows.
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'Nero' Nero d'Avola 2019 $54.99
Entirely Nero d'Avola from 20 year old vines planted 550 meters above sea level on sandy soils. The grapes macerate on the skins for two whole months before being pressed into concrete tanks to age for a year. The wine is then bottled, and spends another two years aging, with less than 1500 bottles produced in the end.
'Nero' is a touch more bold than 'Elsa', but still vibrant and fresh. The nose is a bouquet of black cherries, licorice, and fresh Aleppo pepper. The silken palate is packed with black fruit, tobacco and spice. The tannins are firm without being intense, and softened by the aging process. Like 'Elsa', this is an elegant cuvée, but with slightly more body, full of energy and life.
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Robert Spencer
Sales Manager
Monarch Wine Merchants |
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