Curatolo Arini Marsala Superiore 5 Anni Secco
WHY WE LOVE IT
- A textbook example of dry “5 year” Marsala .
Varietal Composition: 50% Grillo, 25% Cataratto, and 25% Inzolia
Elaboration: The process requires soft pressing and slow fermentation at a controlled temperature of 68°F to 77°F. To the base wine, which is pale yellow in color, is added table wine, mistella (fresh grape must with alcohol) and mosto cotto (cooked must). This complex mixture, together with the final alcohol content and the desired sugar level, provides the traditional “Marsala” flavor. It is aged for over 5 years in oak barrels.
Tasting Notes: Intense amber color. Balanced notes of toasted almonds, dried figs and raisins, with delicate hints of vanilla and wood. Soft, dry and moderately spicy. A perfect match for custard or sweet ricotta pastries, almond and fruit based desserts, it is also wonderful with dark chocolate or hard, aged cheeses.
PRESS
NV – 91 Vinous
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
We’ve long had passion for Marsala wine, and Curatolo Arini is the oldest family owned Marsala producer in Sicily, a venerable house with 135 years under its belt across four generations. Roberto and Sergio Curatolo, the grandson and great-grandson of founder Vito Curatolo, now run the day to day operations here, and Alberto Antonini serves as a consultant.
Curatolo Arini’s distinctive Marsala labels are exactly the same as originally designed 100 years ago by Ernesto Basile, an artist known as the father of the Sicilian “Liberty Style” aka Art Nouveau.
The family operates two separate facilities – One in Marsala which is filled door to door with large Slavonian oak barrels and used for all of their white and fortified wines, and a gorgeous, more contemporary facility in Caltanissetta where they craft all of their dry reds.