2023 Occhipinti Il Frappato

Occhipinti is one of the hottest names in Italian wines, and their tiny production is highly sought after. Situated a mere 15km from the Mediterranean, the vineyards are 250m above sea level planted to Frappato and Nero d’Avola. Winemaking is natural and hands off, with fermentation occurring spontaneously, no temperature control, no fining, no filtration and only minimal sulphur additions at bottling.

Other Reviews...
After a difficult 2022 vintage, the 20th harvest of Il Frappato from Arianna Occhipinti, 2023, is a staggeringly beautiful wine. It’s a stop-and-stare phenomenon: I sat tasting it for half an hour and between all the adjectives, what really mattered was that I was almost ready to down tools and start drinking my way through the bottle at 2pm on a Monday. Yes, there is blood orange and cranberry, bitter cherries, the smell of rose petals after rain and some elusive spice, but what is more important is that I suddenly wanted to own cases of this wine. It’s an ambassador for Sicily, as vivid, arresting and confusing as the whole ancient island, and a reminder to resist the cliches. This is vigour, not lassitude; energy, not managed decay. It’s unmissable; a wine that sparks the kind of joy wine lovers crave. Drink 2026-2031.
95 points
Jason Millar - Decanter

A super-focused, polished, light and fresh wine with gentle aromas of wax, black pepper and wild strawberries. A restrained palate with cinnamon flavors, firm chalky tannins, crisp acidity and a chewy finish where the structure finds its balance. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.
96 points
Aldo Fiordelli - JamesSuckling.com