FUSO Dario Serrentino, CALA Macerato 2024

100% Catarratto Lucido

Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Sea-breeze salty island wine alert! But serious too, since we are talking about the wind-swept high plains (400m) outside near Particino in NW Sicilia. Pithy yellow stone fruits, cantaloupe, dried citrus rinds, and sandalwood; the dried flowers on the nose extend into a long salty finish. 

Cala Bianco is Dario Serrentino from Il Mortellito’s spin on the white grapes from the northwest of Sicilia. He works with the specific clone of Catarratto that’s called Catarratto Extra Lucido - Extra Shiny Catarratto - which gives wines with more texture, depth, and color that the common Catarratto usually found throughout Sicilia. Dario is known for making highly drinkable and sea-breeze salty island wines. He is working here in the raised 400 meter plains outside the town of Partinico, 30 km west of Palermo. Seeking to tweak the acidity even more, he picks early in August instead of September. Pithy stone fruits, cantaloupe, dried citrus rinds, and sandalwood; the dried flowers on the nose extend into a long salty finish. It’s on the edge between an orange wine and a white wine, with 50 hours on the skins. 

Certified organic vineyard of 5 hectares. Clay and red sand soils. 20 year old vines with Guyot training. Native yeast fermentation. Malolactic fermentation and 50 hours on the skins in stainless steel tanks and, after pressing, in stainless steel for another 10 days. 6 months élevage in stainless steel tanks. Decant and light filtering. 55 mg/L sulfur total added (25 mg/L while pressing, and 35 mg/L at bottling) 1,600 cases produced. VEGAN.