Medium gold color; lemon-lime, grapefruit, citrus, tangerine, peach-pear, pineapple, salinity-sea foam, spring flowers on the nose and palate.
Dry; bright acidity, no tannins. Light-plus body. Rich, tasty. Nice balance of fruitiness and acidity. This is 100% grillo grapes hand-harvested into small crates. Temperature-controlled maceration after de-stemming and crushing. After light pressing, wine spends four months on the lees in temperature-controlled stainless steel. Aged three months in bottle before release. 13% ABV
Grillo is the signature white wine from Sicily, where most of the grillo vines in the world grow. The name means “cricket” in Italian and also is an Italian surname. Once used exclusively in marsala production, grillo now is made as a varietal such as this effort. Grillo often is referred to as a fuller, funkier alternative to pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc. The vines can withstand high temperatures and drought and still produce copiously. Grillo is not an ancient grape. DNA analysis indicates it is a cross between catarratto and zibibbo, a biotype related to muscat of Alexandria. It likely was created by Antonio Mendola in 1873.
The Bonetta brothers founded the winery in the 2000s near the Sicilian town of Campobello di Licata, near the south coast. Prior to founding the winery, the family initially focused selling bulk wine. In 2000, they revitalized their business with new vineyards on their 124 acres of calcareous-chalky soil. In 2006, they built a state-of-the-art winery. In 2009 the put wine under their own label on the market. The produce eight different labels. The most notable include Lalùci—this grillo effort; Lu Patri, a nero d’Avola pour; and Lusirà, a syrah bottling. “Lalùcia” refers to “light” in Sicilian dialect. The winery notes it reflects their commitment to showcase the purity and authenticity of the grillo grape.
Baglio Del Cristo di Campobello Lalùci Grillo, Sicilia 2020 is a fun, easy drinker with freshness and energy. Ripe grillo fruits suggest sweetness and fullness, but this is a dry wine made with Sicily’s signature white grape. Refined. Silky texture. Intense flavors and aromas. Impressive. Pair with fish and shellfish, including ceviche and sushi; grilled fish; stewed fish; smoked fish; bacon-wrapped shrimp; lemon chicken, roasted chicken; pasta dishes with white sauces and seafood; pasta marinara; light risotto; garden and summer salads; vegetarian fare. Cheese—fresh, lighter cheeses; goat cheese; feta; burrata, caprino. $17-25
