2022 Arianna Occhipinti Bianco ‘Vini di Contrada SM’

100% Grillo, all farmed organically and with biodynamic principles on the single Santa Margherita ‘contrada’ (vineyard) on sandy, calcareous soils around 1600’ elevation  in Chiaramonte Gulfi, just north of Vittoria. 12 months in large oak casks.

94 points Raffaele Mosca (Decanter): "Boasting an intense golden colour, this 100% Grillo from Contrada Santa Margherita mixes Sicilian exuberance with Chablis-like crispness and minerality. Twelve months ageing in large oak casks adds a touch of sweet spice to golden apple, lanolin, and acacia honey, while iodine and flint echo in the background. Laser-like acidity is seamlessly interwoven through a viscous mid-palate, making for an uncommon combination of textural depth and tension. It finishes long and slightly tactile, with sappy minerals allied to dried fruits and cinnamon. Drinking Window: 2024-2030. (12/1/23)"

93 points, Vinous Media. "The 2022 Bianco Vini di Contrada SM is impossible to ignore as a captivating blend of crushed rocks and flint mixes with vanilla, raw almond and young peach. It's mineral-intese, with a cascade of tart orchard fruits propelled by zest acidity. Sour citrus adds cheek-puckering tension throughout. This cleans up beautifully, gently tannic and long with a resonance of lemon zest and hints of sour melon that linger on and on. The Vini di Contrada is a varietal Grillo planted in sandy, calcareous soils around 500 mtere in Chiaramonte Gulfi, just north of Vittoria."