Gueli Calcareus Nero d'Avola 2015

Calcareus is 100% Nero d'Avola sourced from the Scintilia locality in Grotte, province of Agrigento, at 450-550 meters above sea level. The vineyard sits on limestone-clayey dark soils — the name Calcareus references this calcium-rich, stony ground directly. Vines were planted in 2000 and are trained using the local Tendone pergola structure. The appellation is Terre Siciliane IGT.

Fermentation and maceration run together for 40 days in open 2000 kg concrete vats at 28-30°C, with manual punch-downs and native yeasts only. No additions, no fining, no filtration. After fermentation the wine ages 24-30 months in 220-liter used oak barrels, then spends another 6 months in bottle before release. Total sulfur dioxide is 6-15 mg/l with zero added sulfites.

On the nose: ripe cherry, balsamic herbs, black pepper, and a lifted medicinal quality. The palate is full-bodied with tart cherry acidity and fine, fresh tannins. Compared to the estate's Erbatino (from chalky talc-like soils), Calcareus is the more robust and rounded of the two cuvees, with greater weight coming from the limestone-clay terroir.

Gueli farms organically. Only organic fertilizers and green manures are used in the vineyards, with weeds managed mechanically. The vines are field-grafted directly onto wild rootstock cuttings taken from selected healthy vineyards, resulting in a non-clonal plant system of diverse biotypes.