COS : Maldafrica 2013

A Complex Sicilian Red Wine with Dark Berry Aromas

The story of Azienda Agricola COS begins in 1980, when three school friends decided to put their heads (and initials) together to create their very own wine business. Giambattista Cilia (C), Giusto Occhipinti (O) and Pinuccia Strano (S) first began making wines for pleasure, renting their parents' land and growing vines on them. Over the years, this project between friends has become one of the most representative ambassadors of the Sicilian terroir. COS has not only brought international attention for the first time to the Cerasuolo di Vittoria appellation of southern Sicily and its native Frappato grape variety, but has also pioneered biodynamic and "natural" winemaking practices in southern Italy, paving the way for other like-minded winemakers to do the same. The Madafrica IGP 2013 by COS is a blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, grown in the Fontane and Vittoria regions of southeast Sicily. The vines, which are 25 years old on average, grow in red soils formed of Pliocene subalpine sands and siliceous limestone interwoven with layers of fresh clay and calcareous tufa. They are cultivated using organic practices. The wine is made with spontaneous fermentation in terracotta amohorae, on skins, using only indigenous yeasts. These amphorae are buried underground with only the tops exposed in order to maintain a constant temperature and to allow the fermentation to benefit from the natural energy of the earth. The wines are then matured in Slavonian barrles for 12 months and in bottle for 6 months before release.

The Madafrica IGP 2013 by COS presents an intense, dark red color in the glass. On the nose, this wine releases a dynamic nose dominated by ripe, spicy black fruits - blackberry, bramble fruit, dark plums, cherries, raspberries - along with hints of chocolate and coffee beans. On the palate, the dark fruit flavors are sharper, accompanied by savory spices, like sage. The wine is medium in body with soft tannins and plenty of structure promising a great aging capacity. The tannins also come through on the finish, which offers earthy, peaty flavors, adding to the general complexity and intrigue of this wine. To drink now or keep until 2023.