Mamertino di Milazzo DOC - Bianco - Mimmo Paone - 2022 - 92 points ZWC

Cellars Cellars Italia Sicilia Silver Medal Wine Rating Zosimo June 27, 2024

Mamertino di Milazzo DOC – Bianco – Mimmo Paone – 2022 – 92 points ZWC

A Glass of Mamertino to Immerse Yourself in Wine Paradise.

Mamertino is a designation that signifies a region and a production protocol with Denomination of Controlled Origin (DOC) status.

The name Mamertino derives from the Mamertini, an ancient people who settled west of today’s province of Messina in Sicily. The Mamertini date back to 310 BC and were mercenaries in the service of Agathocles, the tyrant king of Syracuse. They worshipped the ancient fertility god Mamers, later adopted by the Romans as Mars, the god of war.

The Mamertini, settled in northeastern Sicily, discovered the area’s viticultural potential and produced Mamertino wine, which became highly esteemed. Writers like Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) and emperors like Julius Caesar (110-44 BC) noted its unique qualities.

Today, Mamertino produced in the Milazzo area has solid foundations with indigenous grapes such as Inzolia, Catarratto, Grillo, and Nero D’Avola.

To understand its aromas, one must immerse oneself in its territory—a unique land of promontories, inlets, sea, and mountains.

At the foothills of Mount Etna, moving north with the Nebrodi and Peloritani Mountains protecting the coast that overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea, one can savor its characteristics by venturing into an inlet that plunges into the sea, such as Baia Sant’Antonio at the extreme tip of the Milazzo promontory.

The view is unparalleled, with mountains behind and the Aeolian Islands in front, with Vulcano peeking out. The fragrances are intense and Mediterranean: saltiness, sea breeze, mineral notes, small white and yellow flowers like daisies and jasmine, fresh herbal notes, white fruits, apricot, and plums.

To experience these wine sensations, we tasted:

A wine with great olfactory/gustatory balance. Its notes of small white flowers and a light sea breeze add minerality and accompany a long and persistent drink, releasing all the scents imparted to the wine, which come to life sip after sip, transporting you to the promontory once inhabited by the Mamertini.

The pairing is with seafood-based first courses, shellfish, and white meats, although its greatest gift is being savored glass after glass in good company.