Profile

Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninlow
Aciditymedium
Sweetnessdry
Oaknew oak

Drinking window

Best 3 to 8 years from vintage.

vintage3 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating above is our own.

In the glass

Full-bodiedLow tanninMedium acidityDryLong, Toasty finish

Aroma: ripe peach, toast, vanilla, tropical fruit

Palate: rich stone fruit, creamy texture, toasted oak, long

Rapitala Grand Cru is the estate's flagship Chardonnay: a full barrique-fermented Sicilian Chardonnay from the Camporeale hillside estate combining tropical fruit richness with a toasty-creamy Burgundian framework.

What it pairs with

With cheese

Ragusano Our pick A young Ragusano is sweet and delicate with a vanilla note. Full-bodied Sicilian Chardonnay fermented or aged in oak is creamy, with ripe stone fruit and vanilla, a rich match for a table wheel of three or four months.

How to serve Rapitala Grand Cru

Allow 35 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 30 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 10-12°C. Cellar temperature (10-12°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a medium-sized white-wine glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Risotto ai funghi porcini, Grilled lobster, Veal with cream and morels. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Rapitala was established in the Sicilian hinterland of Camporeale in 1968 through a partnership between Count Hugues de la Gatinais and the Guarrasi family. Grand Cru was developed as their prestige Chardonnay, bearing the name influenced by the Burgundian classification despite having no official Italian Grand Cru status.

  1. 1968Tenuta Rapitala established by Franco-Sicilian partnership in Camporeale
  2. 1990Grand Cru Chardonnay developed as prestige flagship white

Facts

Producer
Tenuta Rapitala · visiting guide
Grapes
Chardonnay (100%)
Classification
Sicilia DOC
Oak
Fermented and aged in new French barriques, 8-10 months with batonnage
ABV
14.0%
Price
EUR 22-35 at retail
Drinking window
3-8 from vintage
First vintage
1990

Frequently asked about Rapitala Grand Cru

What does Rapitala Grand Cru taste like?

On the nose, ripe peach, toast, vanilla, tropical fruit. On the palate, rich stone fruit, creamy texture, toasted oak, long. Structurally full-bodied, low tannins, medium acidity with a long, toasty finish. Rapitala Grand Cru is the estate's flagship Chardonnay: a full barrique-fermented Sicilian Chardonnay from the Camporeale hillside estate combining tropical fruit richness with a toasty-creamy Burgundian framework.

When should I drink Rapitala Grand Cru?

Drink 3-8 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Rapitala Grand Cru?

Risotto ai funghi porcini is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Grilled lobster and Veal with cream and morels. The wine's creamy, toasty depth complements rich mushroom risotto.

What grapes are in Rapitala Grand Cru?

The blend is Chardonnay (100%). The wine is classified as Sicilia DOC.

Tags

chardonnay dry full body hidden gem medium acid medium term mood bold mood elegant occasion dinner party occasion special old world pairs with mushroom pairs with poultry pairs with shellfish price trade up still white

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