Donnafugata Tancredi Dolce&Gabbana

Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicilia

2018
2017

Dialogue with creativity: the name Tancredi recalls one of the protagonists of the Leopard, an inexhaustible source of inspiration also for Dolce&Gabbana; in the novel and in the film of the same name, Tancredi is the favorite nephew of the Prince of Salina, precisely because of his charm and ability to adapt to changes. With a passionate and irrefutably Sicilian character, Tancredi was born in 1990 from an innovative blend for that era of a native grape variety with an international one. Dolce&Gabbana has created the coordinated image of this “revolutionary” wine, paying homage precisely to the Leopard, and in particular to the contrast between tradition and modernity that Tancredi summarizes in itself: and while gold, blue and lines sinuous of Baroque inspiration celebrate the splendor of the aristocracy now in decline, red, green and pointed geometric figures refer to the new revolutionary values that are emerging in Sicily after the unification of Italy and which prelude to the contemporary history of the island

Tasting Notes

Tasting notes: with an intense ruby red color, Tancredi 2018 combines notes of fruit such as plums and blueberries, with delicate spicy hints of licorice and sweet tobacco. On the palate it unfolds all its enveloping and plentiful personality with perfectly integrated tannins; it ends with a long and elegant persistence.

Food Pairings

Food & Wine: Tancredi goes perfectly with red meat and game; recommendable also the pairing with tuna or oily fish. It can be uncorked at the moment if served in large glasses, with a wide mouth and good height. Excellent at 18 °C.

Vintage Notes

The vintage and 2018 harvest: in Contessa Entellina after two slightly rainier years, in 2018 743 mm of rainfall were recorded, a figure that is above the average of 667 mm of this territory. Most of the rainfall was distributed in spring; only in some plots there have been precipitations in the summer. The integrated management of agronomic practices, from pruning to thinning to the choice of different harvesting moments, inspired by an eco-sustainable viticulture, has allowed us to have healthy and well-ripened grapes. The harvest of the grapes destined for Tancredi began with Nero d’Avola and Tannat during the first 10 days of September followed by Cabernet Sauvignon in the mid-September.

Winemaking Notes

Vinification and aging: fermentation in stainless steel with maceration on the skins for about 14 days at a temperature of 28 °-30° C. Aging for 12 months in oak and at least 2 years in bottle before release. Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d’Avola, Tannat and other varieties. Aging potential: to be enjoyed now; if well preserved, its longevity goes beyond 20 years.

Technical Info

Analysis data: alcohol 14.20 % vol., total acidity: 6.2 g/l., pH: 3.60. Aging potential: to be enjoyed now; if well preserved, its longevity goes beyond 20 years.

Vineyard Notes

Production area: Donnafugata Contessa Entellina estate and neighboring territories, in the heart of south-western Sicily; the vineyards are on the hills, on mainly clayey soils.

Tasting Notes

Tasting notes: with an intense ruby red color, Tancredi 2017 Limited Edition combines notes of red fruit, black currant, and prunes, with balsamic notes and delicate hints of cocoa and sweet tobacco. On the palate it unfolds all its enveloping personality with perfectly integrated tannins and long persistence.

Food Pairings

Vintage Notes

The vintage and 2017 harvest: the 2017 vintage was less rainier than average in this area. Temperatures registered between July and August were higher than seasonal average and this resulted in the ripening of all the varieties cultivated in the area 1-2 weeks earlier than usual. In this period of the summer, good temperature ranges between day and night have given healthy grapes with an excellent aromatic and phenolic maturation. The harvest of the grapes destined for Tancredi began with Nero d’Avola during the last decade of August followed by Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon in the first decade of September.

Winemaking Notes

Vinification and aging: ffermentation in stainless steel with maceration on the skins for about 14 days at a temperature of 28°-30° C. Aging for 12 months in oak and at least 3 years in bottle before release (1 November 2021).
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d’Avola, Tannat and other varieties. Aging potential: to be enjoyed immediately or for collection; if well preserved, its longevity goes beyond 20 years.

Technical Info

Alcohol: 14.20 %
Total Acidity: 6.2 g/l
pH: 3.60

Vineyard Notes

Production area: Donnafugata Contessa Entellina estate and neighboring territories, in the heart of south-western Sicily; the vineyards are on the hills, on mainly clayey soils.