Unico Zelo
Unico Zelo Pipe Dream Nero d’Avola
In the expansive oeuvre of Italian-inspired wines Unico Zelo produces, they count their Pipe Dream Nero d'Avola among their best. In its homeland, this grape is the de facto flag bearer for Sicily, capable of making boatloads of easy drinking table wine, but when farmed attentively, it is destined for greatness. And so it can handle the dry and warm conditions of Australia with grace, maintaining a racy acidity while ripening a host of pure, primary red and blue fruits. These vines are pampered in UZ's home vineyard, Birdwood, in Adelaide Hills, where it keeps terrific structure and balance, ringing in well under fourteen degrees alcohol, shot through with an addictive raspberry and blueberry and red apple soul, elaborated with lemongrass and stony minerality nuances.
Region: Adelaide Hills
Appellation: Adelaide Hills
Varietal/Blend: 100% Nero d'Avola
ABV: 13.7%
Vineyard: Unico Zelo Pipe Dream Nero d’Avola comes from Unico Zelo’s estate vineyard in Birdwood at 380–520 meters altitude. Grown in a moderate Mediterranean climate on alluvial quartz clay over limestone, the vines were grafted to Nero d’Avola in 2015.
Cellar: Unico Zelo Pipe Dream Nero d’Avola undergoes a seven-day whole berry ferment in stainless steel tanks. After fermentation, the wine is racked to old oak puncheons for malolactic fermentation and aged for eight months, enhancing texture and complexity.
CSPC: 118982
Winemakers Note: When Pipe Dream is on song, it’s arguably the best wine we produce. Ripe, primary fruit, with racy acid and pure red and blue fruits. It’s on song this year. It has an uber addictive raspberry core, with ripples of blueberry and bright red apple. There is a distinct, rocky mineral acidity that’s a bit unusual for this wine, but it’s a lovely, complexing character. It has some almost lemongrass-y hits too. Love the development of these vines now, after being grafted in 2015 and it should evolve really nicely in bottle. A wine with just a hint of luxury.
What the Critics are saying: []
Region: Adelaide Hills
Appellation: Adelaide Hills
TECHNICAL INFO
Varietal/Blend: 100% Nero d'Avola
ABV: 13.7%
Vineyard: Unico Zelo Pipe Dream Nero d’Avola comes from Unico Zelo’s estate vineyard in Birdwood at 380–520 meters altitude. Grown in a moderate Mediterranean climate on alluvial quartz clay over limestone, the vines were grafted to Nero d’Avola in 2015.
Cellar: Unico Zelo Pipe Dream Nero d’Avola undergoes a seven-day whole berry ferment in stainless steel tanks. After fermentation, the wine is racked to old oak puncheons for malolactic fermentation and aged for eight months, enhancing texture and complexity.
CSPC: 118982
Winemakers Note: When Pipe Dream is on song, it’s arguably the best wine we produce. Ripe, primary fruit, with racy acid and pure red and blue fruits. It’s on song this year. It has an uber addictive raspberry core, with ripples of blueberry and bright red apple. There is a distinct, rocky mineral acidity that’s a bit unusual for this wine, but it’s a lovely, complexing character. It has some almost lemongrass-y hits too. Love the development of these vines now, after being grafted in 2015 and it should evolve really nicely in bottle. A wine with just a hint of luxury.
What the Critics are saying: []
Giovanni Autuori
Calgary + Alberta South
T: 403-971-1898
E: giovanni@vinoalvino.ca
Joe Gurba
Edmonton + Alberta North
T: 780-203-5284
E: joeg@vinoalvino.ca
