2022 Passito di Pantelleria Ben Ryé

Tasting notes:

Ben Ryé is a modern take on Moscato Passito. The name derives from the Arabic 'Son of the Wind', after the local Sirocco. Vines are planted on sandy slopes of volcanic origin. The dried grapes were destemmed and selected by hand before they were added to the fresh must in several batches. Aged in stainless-steel tanks for eight months with at least a further 12 months in the bottle. Amber in colour, Ben Ryé is wonderfully fresh and complex with intense aromas of apricot, candied citrus zest and notes of Mediterranean thyme and rosemary. The palate is well-defined and intense, with pleasant sweetness balanced perfectly with fresh acidity and great minerality.

Producer description:

Donnafugata, meaning ‘fleeing woman’, belongs to the Rallo family who has been making wine in Sicily since 1851. During the 1980s, they started championing the potential of the island’s native varieties while experimenting with international ones. They now own four estates located on the hills east of Marsala, Vittoria, Pantelleria and the slopes of Etna. Their masterpiece is ‘Ben Ryé’, a Zibibbo Passito from the island of Pantelleria. In 2017, they started a collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana aiming to create a series of special wines, combining Donnafugata’s expertise with Dolce & Gabbana’s distinctive style.