COS
Vittoria RG, Italy (Sicily)
Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
60% Nero d'Avola, 40% Frappato
An iconic wine from one of the most influential producers in Sicily. The Cerasuolo Classico is characterized by bright, wild red fruits, energetic and complex with great structure. With time the wine relaxes to express smoked herbs, dried flowers, and leathery tobacco. A medium bodied wine with nuanced tannins that develop with age. This wine captures the life and essence of southeastern Sicily with freshness.
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COS was started by 3 friends fresh outta high school in 1980. With idealistic views on farming and a natural approach to winemaking, the goal was to express terroir and the true identity of their region. COS has helped shape the way we think about wine over the last 4 decades. Certified organic with biodynamic principles, this benchmark wine, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, received DOCG status in 2005, the first and only DOCG in Sicily.
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"Pithos Rosso"
Terre Siciliane IGP
100% Nero d’Avola (2020 vintage)
In 2000 the COS winery embarked on a new adventure, aging wines in clay vessels buried underground, seeking to express the terroir of southeastern Sicily as transparently as possible. The amphora heightens the elegance and oxygenation for more developed flavors. Intense floral aromatics of violet combine with red plum, wild black fruits, and herbal complexities. Medium bodied and energetic, the acidity softens with oxygen for a smooth, elegant finish.
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This wine tells a story. The history of wine is almost as long as the story of civilization and it has been fashioned in different ways across the globe for millennia. Before the use of oak barrels, clay was used for storing and aging wine. This wine is a fascinating look into the minerality and character of the Cerasuolo di Vittoria region especially when compared to COS' classic DOCG aged in barrel.
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Frappato
Terre Siciliane IGP
Frappato
An exciting indigenous grape from Sicily, Frappato will have it's moment in the sun with the current demand for easy drinking, light bodied wines with captivating flavor. The tart red fruits of cherry and strawberry are vibrant and aromatic with low tannins and fresh acidity. Very easy to drink, this wine is for fans of Burgundy, Beaujolais, Willamette, and Garnacha. It navigates the warm temperatures of Sicily with aplomb.
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The sandy limestone soils of the Vittoria area in Sicily are ideal for making aromatic and lively wines. The COS winery farms over 12 hectares of this exciting grape. Certified organic with biodynamic principles, look no further for a premium example of Frappato. Like Grenache Garnacha, this grape retains acidity and freshness even in the hottest of vintages. Native yeast fermentation and concrete aging help maintain the natural character.
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"Nero di Lupo"
Terre Siciliane IGP
Nero d'Avolo
Nero d'Avola was the rising star of Sicily when high alcohol and power were the goal. COS, instead, focused on expressing the vibrant dark energy of this beautiful native grape. Nero d'Avola is naturally high in acidity, and this vibrant example reveals that with dark berry fruits, cassis, and plum layered with violets, smoked herbs, leather, and rhubarb. This wine shows crisp, crunchy tannins with a good sapidity that lingers.
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COS started, with just three young friends looking to source quality grapes and manage family vineyards. From day one they were looking to express the natural fruits of the earth. They produced fresh, low alcohol wines with native yeast and organic farming and now the trends have caught up to these pioneers. The name "Nero di Lupo" is a nod to the Contrada vineyard first sourced for this wine, Fossa di Lupo The Pit of the Wolf.
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"Zibibbo in Pithos"
Terre Siciliane IGP
Zibibbo (Muscat di Alexandria)
The Arabic word "Zibibbo "is the official Italian name for Moscato d'Alessandria. One of the world's oldest grape varieties, this wine is intensely aromatic with expressive floral elements like lavender, lemon balm, Meyer lemon, honey comb, and apricot. Very fruity but dry with a soft acidity that is round, full, and coating. This wine will confuse your taste buds with smells that allude to sweetness but with a taste that is dry and savory. A truly pleasurable experience.
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The stable of Amphora wines from COS has grown with this edition of the Zibibbo in Pithos. A compelling example of a dry Moscato with skin contact and aging in clay vessels. It stands out as something different. Like all COS wines, this is spontaneous wild yeast fermentation from their certified organic vineyards. It spends more than 30 days on the skins and 6 months in the Amphora Pithos. Only 500 cases produced.
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