Territories & Wineries

Sito dell’Ulmo Merlot

Sicilia D.O.C.

100% Merlot

Sito dell’Ulmo is a single-variety Merlot from a single vineyard. Years of experience helped us identify on the banks of Lake Arancio, among the vines planted at Ulmo in 1987, the ideal place to obtain the best from this classic French variety.

Awards

2015	Guida Vitae AIS	4 Viti
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	93
2014	James Suckling	92
	Falstaff	91
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	91
	Wine Enthusiast	90

2013	Vinous	90
	James Suckling	92
	Emozioni dal Mondo	Gold
	Decanter World Wine Awards	Commended 85 pt
2012	Falstaff	91
	James Suckling	90
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	90
	Wine Spectator	90
	Vinous	86
2011	Wine Enthusiast	90
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	90
	Wine Spectator	88
	Vinous	86
2010	James Suckling	93
	Wine Enthusiast	90
	I vini di Veronelli	Tre stelle rosse (90 pt)
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	89
2009	James Suckling	91
	Wine Spectator	88
	Wine Enthusiast	88
2008	James Suckling	92
	Wine Enthusiast	90
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	89
	Vinous	89
	Wine Spectator	88
	Guida vini Siciliani (Giornale di Sicilia)	Vino a 5 stelle
2007	Wine Enthusiast	91
	James Suckling	90
	Falstaff	90
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	89
	Vinous	89
	Vinous	88
2006	Wine Enthusiast	90
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	89
	Vinous	89
	Wine Spectator	86
	Decanter World Wine Awards	Commended
2005	Wine Enthusiast	90
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	89
	Vinous	89
	Falstaff	89
	Vinous	88+
	Wine Spectator	87
2004	Wine Spectator	86
	Gambero Rosso	Tre Bicchieri
2003	Wine Enthusiast	90
	Wine Spectator	90
	Vinous	90
	Decanter	Silver
2002	Wine Spectator	90
	Decanter	Silver
2001	Wine Enthusiast	90
	Wine Spectator	90
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	87
	Falstaff	3 stelle
	Bibenda	5 Grappoli
2000	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	89
	Wine Spectator	88
1999	Wine Spectator	90
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	90
	Vinous	90
	Wine Enthusiast	87
	Bibenda	5 Grappoli
	Gambero Rosso	Tre Bicchieri
1998	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	89
	Gambero Rosso	Tre Bicchieri
1997	Wine Spectator	90
	Vinous	88
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	88
1995	Vinous	89

Go to Territory of Menfi

Altimetry

195

Above sea level

Climate

21°Average temperature

Farming system

Guyot

Planting density

3.800 vines per hectare

Now

10.6°C

Cloudiness	27%
Humidity	89%
Wind	2.42mh →↗

First Vintage

1995

See vintages

1995
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2011
2012
2013

Climate

A very cool harvest, better for red wines than white.
Climate

Hot August and cool September with some rain followed a winter with little rainfall.
Climate

The cycle of hot harvests begins with dry hot weather throughout the harvest.
Climate

Vintage characterised by winter and spring with little rain, very hot August and cool dry September.red wines with tannin.
Climate

Almost perfect vintage with really well concentrated reds having hot dense tannin.
Climate

A cooler summer (as in 2004) produced varietal reds with soft clear tannin.
Climate

Winter and spring with almost no rain. Low production and very good quality in contrast with the rest of Italy.
Climate

More rain than usual refreshed part of the harvest, resulting in reds with colour and body.
Climate

Cold wet winter and spring were a perfect preparation for the vines, harvest began 15 days late with cool temperate weather. Very fresh whites.
Climate

Abundant spring and winter rain perfectly prepared the vineyards for summer and autumn ripening. The surprisingly fresh and cool temperatures of July, August and September achieved the rest, with the grapes arriving at the winery in perfect condition.
Climate

A rainy late-autumn and low temperatures, though not excessively so, have laid strong basis to a good vintage . The vines were able to rest in well-soaked soil. After a rainy winter the spring was particularly cool and dry. A mild summer provided for excellent ripening of both white and red grapes. The 2006 vintage has been excellent with regard to the quality of the grapes. The grapes are sound, the yield generally about 10% down, though 20% lower for Merlot, Nero d'Avola and Frappato.This vintage can be described as luminous and sunny. All the sun-loving varieties such as Syrah and Nero d'Avola are of extraordinary richness. The whites are rich, creamy, and well-defined by type of grape.
Climate

After two short but intense heatwaves, typical for the period from 20th July to 15th August, it stayed fine, temperatures stabilized, and persistent high pressure presented us with a vintage with no rainfall the first slight shower arrived on 25th September! and with amazing maturation. For those who enjoy comparisons, in our reckoning the recent years most similar to 2007, in Sicily, are 1997 and 2001.
Climate

The result was a superb vintage, the indigenous varieties are absolutely excellent. The French varieties are intense and varietal.
Climate

The climatic conditions prevailing during the 2010 harvest were particularly favourable. In 2009 the autumn finished with abundant rainfall, ideal for setting the vines to rest. The winter had normal temperatures and not too much rain. The spring was also average, with rain at the end. The summer began with cooler temperatures until the middle of August, when the temperature then rose to assist perfect ripening. Around 20th September rain assisted the harvest at Vittoria. On the other hand the beginning of summer on Etna was fairly dry but the rains at the end of September were useful and prolonged the harvest until 21st October. Might 2010 be one of the best vintages out of the previous ten? It is early to say but it is certainly a super vintage.
Harvesting started on August 9, a little early compared to the five previous years. The white grapes yielded a significantly lesser quantity and were of outstanding quality, especially the Chardonnay and Grecanico varieties. Thanks to the diminished yield the red French grapes, most of all Syrah and Cabernet Franc, were even better. This means great colour and great structure; the Plumbago’s Nero d’Avola for instance displayed its magnificent fragrance to perfection.
The harvest here registered a sharp drop in production of the early varieties such as Chardonnay and Viognier, an amazing quality especially for Nero d'Avola and Syrah as well as Cabernet Franc, which are rich and varietal with an excellent tannic structure. The harvest was completed with the harvest of Grecanico, a variety that prefers drier weather. For this reason, the grapes are fully intact thanks to a climate free of moisture.
The reds, Merlot and Cabernet, benefitted from a cooler harvest with a thick dense tannin structure, thanks to extended ripening. Syrah prefers a dry September and is rather less than excellent. Nero d’Avola is fresh and fruity as rarely before.

Time of Harvest

september

Vinification

Destalking followed by 14 days on the skins; fermentation at 28⁰C; after racking malolactic fermentation in stainless steel and maturing for 14 months in barriques.