2023 Occhipinti Il Frappato

Arianna Occhipinti describes this as the wine that most resembles her: brave, original, and a bit rebellious. It’s her “dream” wine, born from 40-year-old vines dug into the red sands and limestone of the Iblei Mountains in Sicily. Arianna is one of the modern stars of Sicilian wine, and while her entry-level reds are great, this is the one that really shows the “peasant elegance” she’s always chasing.It’s a far cry from the heavy, sun-drenched reds people often associate with Sicily. Instead, you get this incredibly pretty, floral lift – think red roses and cinnamon – intertwined with a tart, mineral edge that keeps you on your toes. It’s fermented with native yeasts and spends over a year in large Slavonian oak, but you wouldn’t know it from the freshness; it’s all about purity and tension.In the glass, it’s juicy and zingy with a mouth-watering acid line that makes it dangerously drinkable. There’s a slightly bitter, “bloody” earthy undertone that gives it real soul, but it never loses that joyous, fragrant fruit. It’s a bit of a masterpiece and easily one of the most expressive versions of Frappato on the planet. If you want to see what all the fuss is about with Sicilian wine, start right here.