2016 Il Censo "Njuro" Terre Siciliane Rosso, Sicily, Italy

Produced exclusively from the Perricone grape, also known in local dialect as “njuro cane”. The vineyard is farmed organically and grapes are harvested manually, with harvest usually taking place in October; fermentation occurs over two to three weeks with indigenous yeasts and minimal or no use of sulfur and without temperature control; the wine is neither fined nor filtered before bottling. This is a gutsy but elegant wine, is not ferocious by any means, with gentle tannins and a slight fade to its red color.

About this Producer

Gaetano’s family, through his mother’s side has owned Il Censo for over 200 years. Production over the years was principally of grains and legumes but there was also a small vineyard planted to Perricone and Malvasia Nera and an old olive grove the trees of which are now 100 years of age. The name “Il Censo” literally means “census” but in this instance most likely refers to the obligations of the tenant farmers to pay tribute to the landowning family, a system that dates back to feudal times. The entire agricultural enterprise is managed organically and vinification is conducted under the principles developed by Giampiero Bea. Our first viticultural foray into Sicily has already proven to be an exciting adventure, a natural extension of our nearly forty year immersion in the wines of Italy.