Profile

Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninlow
Aciditymedium
Sweetnesssweet
Oaknone or neutral

Drinking window

Best 5 to 25 years from vintage.

vintage5 yrs25 yrs27 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 aciditySweetExtraordinary Length, Honeyed-Mineral finish

Aroma: extreme dried apricot, dried fig, orange blossom, volcanic mineral

Palate: concentrated dried fruit, honey, beeswax, volcanic mineral

Sole d'Agosto (August sun) is the De Bartoli minimal-intervention take on Passito di Pantelleria: zero-sulphur Zibibbo from the Bukkuram estate, producing an almost overwhelmingly concentrated dried-fruit and honey wine with a volcanic mineral dimension absent from other Pantelleria passiti.

What it pairs with

  • Served solo as meditation wine The extraordinary concentration and volcanic mineral depth reward contemplative solo drinking.
  • Aged Gorgonzola naturale The wine's intense sweetness and mineral depth create a powerful contrast with pungent Gorgonzola.More wines for blue cheese →
  • Sicilian granita di mandorla The wine's honeyed sweetness and almond notes bridge perfectly with the frozen almond dessert.

With cheese

Ricotta Infornata Our pick Baked ricotta is salted and finished with a thin browned skin. The apricot and honey of a sun-dried passito from Pantelleria or the Aeolian islands set sweet against salty, the way a dessert wine meets a blue cheese.

How to serve Marco De Bartoli Bukkuram Sole d'Agosto

Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
  2. Serve at 12-14°C. Cellar temperature (12-14°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a small dessert-wine glass (3-5oz pour): the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Served solo as meditation wine, Aged Gorgonzola naturale, Sicilian granita di mandorla. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Sebastiano De Bartoli produces Sole d'Agosto from the family's Bukkuram estate on Pantelleria using the same minimal-intervention philosophy that defines the Samperi Marsala operation: no added sulphur, late harvesting and traditional alberello pantesco cultivation. The result is among the most intense and uncompromising expressions of the Passito di Pantelleria appellation.

  1. 1990First Sole d'Agosto vintage from the Bukkuram Pantelleria estate

Facts

Producer
Marco De Bartoli - Bukkuram (Pantelleria) · visiting guide
Grapes
Zibibbo
Classification
Passito di Pantelleria DOC
Oak
No oak; minimal intervention; no sulphur
ABV
15.0%
Price
€35-60 at retail
Drinking window
5-25 from vintage
First vintage
1990

Frequently asked about Marco De Bartoli Bukkuram Sole d'Agosto

What does Marco De Bartoli Bukkuram Sole d'Agosto taste like?

On the nose, extreme dried apricot, dried fig, orange blossom, volcanic mineral. On the palate, concentrated dried fruit, honey, beeswax, volcanic mineral. Structurally full-bodied, low tannins, medium acidity with a extraordinary length, honeyed-mineral finish. Sole d'Agosto (August sun) is the De Bartoli minimal-intervention take on Passito di Pantelleria: zero-sulphur Zibibbo from the Bukkuram estate, producing an almost overwhelmingly concentrated dried-fruit and honey wine with a volcanic mineral dimension absent from other Pantelleria passiti.

When should I drink Marco De Bartoli Bukkuram Sole d'Agosto?

Drink 5-25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Marco De Bartoli Bukkuram Sole d'Agosto?

Served solo as meditation wine is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Aged Gorgonzola naturale and Sicilian granita di mandorla. The extraordinary concentration and volcanic mineral depth reward contemplative solo drinking.

What grapes are in Marco De Bartoli Bukkuram Sole d'Agosto?

The blend is Zibibbo. The wine is classified as Passito di Pantelleria DOC.

Tags

cellar worthy cult wine dessert passito full body iconic medium acid mood contemplative mood funky occasion cellar occasion gift occasion special old world pairs with blue cheese pairs with chocolate pairs with digestif price premium sweet zibibbo

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