While one can find excellent wines in any corner of Sicily, the island has two "hot-spots" that are blessed with an abundance of compelling and fascinating wines: the slopes of Mount Etna in eastern Sicily and Gurrieri's homeland: the fertile valley that surrounds the small city of Vittoria. The Val di Noto (the name of the valley in Italian) is an agricultural paradise, with vineyards sharing space with citrus, pistachio, and olive groves. Gurrieri's estate is on the periphery of the valley, with the Iblei Mountains looming in the background. The calcareous soils and temperature swings of this microclimate combine to produce a Frappato that is particularly expressive and elegant. The wine has an intense bouquet of red fruit, roses and white pepper. Vibrant notes of crunchy, underripe raspberry and cranberry are well-defined on the palate, and the wine is lithe and impossibly fine in texture. Despite this incredible delicacy, it is punctuated with precise tannins that provide a framework for the polished fruit. The finish is long and beautiful, with more tart red fruit and a pleasant amaro-like bitterness. On an island already punching well above its weight, Gurrieri is a true standout!