COS Winemaker Dinner

Giusto Occhipinti of COS hosted a dinner at Callie Restaurant in San Diego, CA. One of my all time favorite producers, and a man who helped make Sicilian wine what it is today. The chefs at Callie pepared a great five course menu that (mostly) paired excellently with COS's wines

Five courses, five classic COS wines.

• 2022 COS Nero di Lupo 90 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane

  Barnyard, lemon peel, blood orange, spearmint, cranberry and tart red cherries on the nose. Great mix of fruit and non fruit, with a medium + intensity of aromas. The palate is more primary, and the condition of the fruit is riper. Loses the barnyard, which was such a nice part of the nose (strange for me to say that, knowing my palate; but it was nicely integrated here). Finishes with limestone and dirt. Medium intensity of flavors. Texturally a tad thin; but not in a bad way.
  
  Medium - body with medium + acid and medium - tannin. Fresh, tart and light. Chill this and pair it with seafood. Probably best to drink now. Can't really see it improving with bottle age.

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• 2022 COS Terre Siciliane Zibibbo in Pithos 91 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane

  Candied orange, over ripe yellow peach, over ripe melon, jasmine, soursop, anise, plsatic and cream on the nose. Something powdery too, almost like smarties candies (as we know them in the us). Smells quite complex, with a medium + intensity of aromas. Sharper on the palate, though still quite primary and consistent with the nose as far as types of fruits of (if not their condition - they're less over ripe). Adds a subtle hint of barnyard. Medium + intensity of flavors. Nice long finish (around 30 seconds)
  
  Medium body with medium acid. This made an amazing pairing with a halibut crudo, seasoned with fennel. Literally, I am buying half a case of this for future raw-fish pairings. Drink now.

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• 2021 COS Terre Siciliane Pithos Bianco 89 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane

  100% Grecanico
  
  Jasmine, meyer lemon, ripe apricot, ripe yellow apple, ripe pear on the nose. Medium + intensity of aromas. The palate adds lemon juice and white pepper; and the condition of the tree fruit changes to under ripe. Medium + intensity of flavors.
  
  Medium + body with medium acid. Drinking well now, could age 2-3 more years in the bottle too. Paired with a shrimp risotto, which was overwhelmed by this wine. Would make a great pairing with a simpler seafood dish.

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• 2012 COS Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico Delle Fontane 93 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico

  The oldest Cerasuolo di Vittoria I've ever had. This definitely makes the case for aging these; as well as why Cerasuolo di Vittoria deserves DOCG status in general.
  
  Over ripe black cherries, over ripe red plums, over ripe blueberries, old wood, burnt rubber and tobacco on the nose. High intensity of aromas. The palate adds cumin and cardamom, while also showing a burst of ripe red fruits - mostly red cherries and raspberries. There's a hint of plastic/reduction as well. Overall, tastes younger than it smells. Medium + intensity of flavors.
  
  Medium bodied with great medium + acid for the age, medium - tannin and a 30 second length of finish. Drinking very well now. It's probably at peak but I must say I am still curious as to where it will go from here. I would love to try it with another 3-5 years on it.
  
  Great pairing with grilled lamb chops.

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• 2020 COS Sicilia Aestas Siciliae 90 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Sicilia

  Night jasmine, candied orange, peach compote, honey, tajin and white pepper on the nose. High intensity of aromas. Smells like it's going to be lusciously sweet. The palate loses the flowers, makes the fruit a tad fresher and adds green almonds and bitter herbs. Tastes drier than you'd think it would from the nose. I'd rank it closer to medium sweet. Finishes with a burst of orange juice and lingers on the palate for around 45 seconds.
  
  Medium + body with medium - acid. 16% alcohol but hard to detect. Great pairing with a cannoli

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I like every single wine this producer makes. High altitude wines that are made to pair with food, they suit my palate perfectly. The wine of the night for me was the 2012 Cerasuolo di Vittoria "della Fontaine", from their best parcel of vineyards.