2023 Rapitala Conte Hugues Chardonnay Terre Siciliane

Tenuta Rapitala includes 225 hectares of vineyards located in the heart of Sicily. Here it was the parents of the current owner Count Laurent Bernard De La Gatinais who started the winery in 1968. Thanks to the French roots of the father of Count Laurent Bernard De La Gatinais, Rapitala was the first Sicilian winery to plant international grapes. Nowadays the winery is known for its high quality and diversity of wines where tradition and innovation go hand in hand. In addition to winemaker Silvio Centonze who is responsible for the cellar, agronomist Ignazio Arena works in the vineyards. Both want to work as environmentally friendly as possible. To achieve this, renewable energy is used from windmills located on top of the hills surrounding the house.

The name Rapitala is derived from Arabic and means land of god. Arabic texts and architecture can still be found in Sicily because the island has been Saracen in the past. This is what you call a world class Sicilian. The wine is made from 100% Nero Syrah grapes. This De Rapitalà Sire Nero Syrah Sicilia DOC is a delicious red wine and has an intense red color and a powerful, Mediterranean character. In the nose fruit aromas of blackberries and blackcurrants. In the mouth, the wine has a fresh, spicy taste and is an ideal accompaniment to red meat, curry, spicy food.

The De Conte Hugues is a beautiful Chardonnay that bears the family crest, in honor of the founder of Tenuta Rapitalà - and is a reference to the French background of owner Laurent Bernard De La Gatinais. From the 2018 vintage, the name Rapitalà Chardonnay Conte Hugues Terre Siciliane has also been used and has therefore changed in terms of naming (previous vintages had the name Grand Cru Chardonnay) and it is and remains a beautiful Chardonnay that has had 10 months of wood aging. In the glass, the Rapitala Grand Cru Chardonnay/Chardonnay Conte Hugues has a pale golden colour. In the nose, this beautiful white wine has a bouquet with intense scents of ripe fruit and toasted bread. On the palate, this beautiful Sicilian wine has the typical fruity characters of Chardonnay with aromatic notes from the wood aging. This is a round, well-formed wine with a long, mouth-filling finish. It is a beautiful, concentrated, balanced and gourmet Chardonnay. which goes well with white meat dishes, shellfish, smoked fish dishes, foie gras.

****(*) – max. 5 stars. “Passion fruit and flowers, apricots, mango. Ripe and rich, lush, soft acidity.” – Press wine 2020

“The great work of Rapitala. Bianco hung with golden garlands. Closer inspection reveals tropical fruits, stroopwafels, macaroons, dried yellow fruits, fried banana and double whipped cream. Oak wood, hardly any acids. Indeed, for lovers of the fuller model”,
Harold Hamersma in De Grote Hamersma 2019, rated with a 9