Mazzei Zisola Doppiozeta Noto Rosso DOC

Description

Mazzei Zisola Doppiozeta a red wine from the Noto Rosso Denominazione Di Origine Controllata of Sicily. It is the flagship wine of the Zisola Estate located approximately 1km from the town of Noto.

Zisola is owned by Mazzei who are more famous for their Tuscan wines, including their Chianti from Castello di Fonterutoli, and have invested a significant amount of money in bringing this estate up to their high standards. The estate consists of some 50 hectares with around 21 hectares of vineyards – the rest is set aside for growing olives, citrus fruit and almonds.

The vineyards are located at a height of 130 above sea level and are characterized by medium texture soils, strongly calcareous with a rich backbone. The vines are planted “ad alberello” a free stading bush vine system commonly used in southern Italy and the islands. The vines are kept small and untrellised which suits the poor soils and low rainfall of the region. Nero d’Avola tolerates hot and dry climates well and the long growing season and cooling sea breezes allow the grapes to develop aromatic compounds and ripen fully. The Zisola Estate winery is equipped with temperature-controlled stainless steel vats with a total capacity of 1,000 hectoliters, for fermentation, and 200 barriques of French oak, for aging.

Zisola Doppiozeta undergoes a temperature controlled fermentation at between 28 and 30c. The wine is a blend of 90% Nero d’Avola and 10% Syrah which is aged for 16 months in small 225 litre French oak barriques, 50% of which are new.

And why is it called Doppiozeta? It translates as “double z” taken from the Mazzei family name.