Territories & Wineries

Passito di Noto

Sicilia Noto D.O.C.

100% Moscato Bianco

Sicily is the land of sweet wines in all its quarters, with different styles and varieties. In the opinion of many people Moscato – or perhaps the ‘moscati’ – is the original grape, for others the Biblino from Syracuse, the first wine described in Sicily, was the father of the present Moscato Passito di Noto. This is an antique wine which has become modern, thanks to a new system of drying. Explosive aromas of exotic fruit, jasmine and citrus fruit are complex while at the same time much enjoyed; the ideal companion for the great Sicilian tradition of sweets and ices.

Awards

2019Wine Enthusiast95

	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	93
	Falstaff Trophy Vini dolci italiani	93
	Falstaff Trophy Vini del Sud Italia	93
2018	Vinous	94
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	92
	Wine Enthusiast	91
	I vini di Veronelli	Tre stelle rosse (90/93 pt)
2017	James Suckling	88
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	88
2016	Wine Enthusiast	91
	Wine Spectator	90
2014	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	93
2013	5 Star Wines Vinitaly 2016	90
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	90
	James Suckling	88
	Vini Buoni d'Italia	4 Stelle
2012	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	91
	I vini di Veronelli	Super Tre Stelle
2011	Falstaff	92
	Wein-Plus.eu	91
	I vini di Veronelli	Tre stelle rosse (91 pt)
	Muscats du Monde	Bronze
2010	I vini di Veronelli	Super Tre Stelle
	Vinous	93
	Wine Enthusiast	92
	Wine Spectator	91
2009	Falstaff	92
	Vinous	90
2008	Falstaff	92
	Wine Enthusiast	92
	Wine Spectator	89
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	88
	Vinous	88
	Decanter World Wine Awards	Bronze
2007	Wine Enthusiast	92
	Wine Advocate Robert Parker	88
	Vinous	88
	Decanter World Wine Awards	Silver
2006	Wine Enthusiast	92
	Falstaff	90
2005	Decanter World Wine Awards	Gold
	D'agata & Comparini	Best 100
2004	Wine Spectator	93
	Vinous	93
	Falstaff	92
	Wine Enthusiast	91
	Decanter	Silver

Go to Territory of Noto

Altimetry

Above sea level

Climate

21°Average temperature

Farming system

Guyot

Planting density

4.500 vines per hectare

Now

10.6°C

Cloudiness	27%
Humidity	89%
Wind	2.42mh →↗

First Vintage

2003

See vintages

2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2016
2017

Climate

More rain than usual invigorated part of the harvest, resulting in whites with much fruit and structure.
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

A brief description of the weather preceding the 2007 harvest is essential. We were cheered in 2006 by an autumn finishing with good October rain that prepared the vines well for their autumn and winter rest. A relatively mild winter followed with temperatures that were never very low and a lower than average rainfall. A weather pattern that coincided with the rest of Italy, with the difference that mild winters are the norm in our area. This winter did make us fear for the summer reserves of water, but then in spring an unusually plentiful rainfall covered the whole of our region until the beginning of May. This is why in Sicily we had no expectations of an early vintage but, until mid-July, we were thinking rather of a late vintage. From July onwards, the most important time for deciding quality, the weather was particularly propitious. 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 2008 vintage ended on Saturday, 4th October. Late in autumn and during winter 2008, rains were just below standard; temperatures, instead, were within seasonal average. Spring confirmed what had happened previously, no abundant rains; the last one, at the end of April, was decisive for the quality of grapes. Therefore, grapes had a fresh and dry climate all the way to the harvesting, without any excessive heat, but with ideal temperatures for ripening. grapes were absolutely wholesome, and did not need to undergo any phytosanitary defence interventions. The result was a superb vintage, the indigenous varieties are absolutely excellent. White wines thanks to the lack of thermal excesses are full-bodied and well balanced and perfectly aromatic. Grecanico wine is particularly excellent, just as the early varieties Chardonnay and Viogner. Fiano wine will get back to its highest quality, such as the 2001 vintage.
Climate

The seasonal pattern showed a fall and a cold winter and little rain, while the spring period was characterized by heavy rains even in the pre-summer. The vineyard went into the summer and maturation in perfect health. The average summer temperatures has been excellent: pleasantly cool, regular, without peaks of heat, never above the seasonal average. Balanced solar radiation. The harvest began with a delay of about 10-14 days (August 17). Temperatures have increased markedly since August 20, while maintaining the proper level of humidity and avoiding dehydration and concentration of the fruit. Harvesting grecanico ended the last days of September.
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 vintag.
Climate

The climatic indicators of 2011 had forecast, on a global level, a classic winter with precipitations below average, which after the last few winters with their copious rainfalls had us a little worried. But then in the spring the situation changed; copious rain fell even relatively late in the season and prepared the vineyards to perfection. The summer was hot without being excessively so, and the grapes were able to ripen without a flaw.
Climate

Noto and Vittoria. A memorable harvest for Nero d’Avola. Structure, balance, bright colors and exuberant nose accompanied by high alcohol, all perfectly balanced. We are more than satisfied with both wineries and we expect unique Cerasuolo and Santa Cecilia wines. The reasons for the superior quality can be traced back to the ideally dry and cool September, perfect for Nero d'Avola. The Moscato di Noto is currently in the process of fermentation. The final judgment on the 2012 vintage is more than positive with peaks of excellence in Vittoria and Noto and in Menfi and Sambuca for the red wines.
Climate

The winter at Noto was very dry and even the spring had little rainfall. Because of this we thinned out the Nero d’Avola vines a little more than usual. Eventually the harvest was very cool and this has provided a full, dense and not particularly alcoholic Nero d’Avola. The Moscato is aromatic and distinctive.
A good harvest, especially for Moscato of Noto and for reasons that are easily understood. An overall vintage with low rainfall in winter and spring, as we are now accustomed to in the southernmost part of Sicily, but with a continuous series of decidedly cooler months than usual, and thus ideal for Moscato and also of help to Nero d'Avola. In Noto in 2014 the three crucial months for quality are once again among the brightest ones of the series being analyzed.
At Noto the year has also been dry. But thanks to the different soils and to the more ‘southern’ general nature of Noto’s Nero d’Avola, the results have been really good. Nero d’Avola has produced an enhanced aromatic profile from this harvest, in a very austere and intense manner. The Moscato has benefitted greatly from the cool summer, and in both the dry and ‘appassimento’ version, demonstrates varietal and aromatic qualities.
Here the year had less rain than heat. It was actually warmer than usual, which had more influence on quantity. The wines obtained are therefore rich and intense. As at Vittoria the management of irrigation was crucial. The decreased production was entirely due to the lower rainfall and to a slow ripening which affected the weight of the grapes. As compensation, structure and colour of the reds abounds. The Moscato di Noto, harvested very early, preserves its particular aromatic characteristics.

Time of Harvest

august

Vinification

The grapes are picked when well ripened at the end of August and are then dried in the fruit cellar, placed in 5 kg crates in a ventilated atmosphere at 23⁰C; when half their weight has been lost, about 40 days later, the grapes are pressed and the must thus obtained, particularly rich in sugars, ferments slowly at 18⁰C for more than a month in stainless steel vats, where they remain until bottling