100% Catarrato from a small, one hectare vineyard marked by black sand and stoney clay. The vines average 20 years of age and are managed according to environmentally friendly agriculture practices, skipping any use of pesticides and herbicides.
Al Feu's Pazzarello is a vibrant, intense yellow. Its aroma is elegant and complex, with notes of exotic stone fruit and white flowers, which create an intriguing and charming bouquet. On the palate, it is fresh and rich without being cloying and retaining enough acidity. Some saline elements mix with more tropical exotic notes. It’s a liquid postcard from west Sicily displaying the Mediterranean influence, balancing fruit and tannins.
Overall it’s an intense mid weight wine, capable of aging at least 4 years from the harvest.
In the cellar, Al Feu's approach is hands off, avoiding technical manipulation. The hand harvested grapes are immediately carried to the cellar, where they see destemming and soft crushing. The catarratto undergoes 20 days of skin contact, providing more color and a pleasant subtle tannic note which enhances its complexity. After the spontaneous fermentation triggered by indigenous yeast only, the wine is left into stainless steel vats to refine on its lees for about 8 months and then is bottled before the summer. Unfined (and therefore suitable for vegans) unfiltered, and completely unoaked!
Catarratto is one of the oldest indigenous varietals cultivated in Sicily, displaying great depth, endowed with flavor and elegance. Pazzarello revives the old tradition of the local macerated wines daily enjoyed by the farmers, while sharing their meal with family and friends. This is a debut wine for Al Feu, accepting the challenge of skipping any added sulfites.
