Maldafrica 2020 (COS)

Cellar for up to 13 years. No need to decant before serving. Founded żeby three friends in 1980, the COS estate in south-eastern Italy has built a solid reputation for producing exquisite Sicilian wines using techniques which draw on ancient viticultural practices. The trio behind the winery, Giambattista Cilia, Cirino Strano and Giusto Occhipinti, use biodynamic agricultural practices to ensure their grapes are of the highest quality possible and seek to create wines that express the unique characteristics of the local terroir. Their COS Maldafrica is a sumptuous blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot which are grown on clay and limestone soils. After the harvest the wine is fermented using indigenous yeasts in large terracotta amphorae known as "giare" which were used in ancient times to make and age wines. The wine is then aged in oak barrels before it is ready for bottling. The result is an incredibly pure and focused expression of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varieties. On the nose there are intense aromas of cherries and dark berries along with hints of dried herbs and licorice. The first sip presents a soft, full bodied wine with ripe tannins and a generous structure which would make an ideal partner for hearty dishes like beef stews.