2014 Planeta 'Didacus' Chardonnay Sicily

"Tasting through the Planeta portfolio is like a master class in Sicilian wine. What’s even more impressive to me is the level of quality and value that Planeta, as large as they are, continue to deliver. The fact is that a consumer can lose themselves in this portfolio, and it would be a highly pleasurable experience tasting their way back out." ~Vinous Media

Planeta is one of the most iconic, and well known producers in Sicily. Fun fact? The winery was even featured in the critically acclaimed TV Show The White Lotus.

Alessio Planeta, head of Planeta, has been named "Winemaker of the Year" worldwide by the prestigious Wine Enthusiast magazine through their "Wine Star Awards" in 2023. 

The family history of this Sicilian Estate goes back for more than 5 centuries, where in such a closed and traditional culture, the Planeta family is not afraid to innovate and modernize.Diego Planeta along with other top-notch wine consultants from Italy like Giacomo Tachis, Carlo Corino, Giampaolo Fabris, and Attilio Scienza,have managed to position Planeta as the reference point in Sicilian and Italian winemaking.Discover what makes Planeta one of Sicily's leading producers!

Their vineyards are distributed throughout 5 different regions around Sicily:Menfi, Etna, Vittoria, Noto, and Capo Milazzo, resulting in an incredibly interesting wine portfolio: Different soils, different climates, different grapes, different (and incredible) wines! And if that wasn't enough,the family also owns a hotel and a restaurant in Menfi and Palermo.

 100% Chardonnay.  A pure expression of Chardonnay executed in a beautifully Burgundian style, complete with a sunny Sicilian twist. The wine shows precision and focus, yet it offers a generous array of stone fruit and floral aromas along the way. As the wine takes on more weight in the glass, it begins to reveal rounder and more opulent tones of Sicilian almond, candied fruit, orange peel, anise seed, and salty mineral tones that recall the soft sea breezes that wash gently over Menfi in the southern part of the island.

This is a new wine made by Planeta in very limited numbers. The 2014 Sicilia Menfi Didacus is a pure expression of Chardonnay executed in a beautifully Burgundian style, complete with a sunny Sicilian twist. The wine shows precision and focus, yet it offers a generous array of stone fruit and floral aromas along the way. As the wine takes on more weight in the glass, it begins to reveal rounder and more opulent tones of Sicilian almond, candied fruit, orange peel, anise seed, and salty mineral tones that recall the soft sea breezes that wash gently over Menfi in the southern part of the island. This special edition (only 6,996 bottles were produced) is dedicated to Diego Planeta, the wise patriarch of this important wine family. As a young child, Didacus was his nickname. Four hectares of Chardonnay (clone R8) were originally planted in 1985 and the vineyard saw several replanting and regrafting efforts over the years. The oldest vines have been marked and fruit for this wine represents a section of the best cluster from the oldest vines. The wine is aged in a combination of old and new barrique (80% new and 20% one-year-old medium toast) from Nevers, Vosges and Allier. The wine's generous Sicilian spirit reminds me of another iconic white: the Planeta 2001 Cometa (made with the Fiano grape). ~95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

A rich and layered chardonnay with nougat, cooked apple and pear character. Full body, flavorful and very intense. Lots going on here. Drink now. ~93 James Suckling

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