Donnafugata Ben Rye' Passito di Pantelleria 2022
Donnafugata Ben Rye' Passito di Pantelleria
The Ben Ryé is a dessert wine made from Zibibbo grapes, a local name for Muscat de Alexandria.
A first, partial harvest takes place in August. The pigeons are harvested by hand and immediately undergo careful selection in the vineyard. When the grapes arrive at the winery they are cleaned and selected again to remove damaged and unripe grapes. The grapes are then dried outside in the sun for a period of 3-4 weeks, during which the moisture in the grapes evaporates, which ensures a higher concentration of sugars and aromas.
The second harvest takes place in September, juice is pressed from these fresh grapes and fermented. This is done in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and fruit aromas. During this fermentation, the dried grapes are added in several stages. These add extra sugars, candied and complex aromas, colorings and freshness to the must. This fermentation also takes place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature. Maturation takes place in stainless steel tanks for 7 months and a minimum of 12 months in the bottle before going on sale.
Ben Ryé has a brilliant amber color. The nose has a fragrant and complex bouquet with notes of fresh apricot and orange zest in combination with Mediterranean scents such as thyme and rosemary. The palette surprises with great intensity, freshness and pleasant sweetness that are balanced by a beautiful minerality and lively juiciness. The finish is long and lingering with a satisfying fruity note.
Delicious with caramelized duck, foie gras and blue cheese and with sweet pastries. An excellent wine in itself.
Donnafugata Ben Ryé has a storage potential of about 30 years!
The name Ben Ryé comes from the Arabic "Son of the Wind". The grapes for this wine come from the volcanic island of Pantelleria where the strong wind continuously blows around the vines and bunches of grapes. The label reflects the people's love and dedication to viticulture in the challenging conditions of this unique island.
For the third year in a row, Donafugata Ben Ryé has been named "Best wine of Italy" and the wine received 99 out of 100 points! more than 8000 wines from 1200 different producers were tasted.
A wonderful score for a special wine.
The comments are positive:
Maroni: "Ben Ryé is a viticultural and oenological masterpiece, which is among the best vintage wines in the world. Hats off!"
Antonio Rallo, winemaker at the family-owned Donnafugata says: "We are happy to see that Ben Ryé has been awarded as a symbol of Italian excellence in the world. Awards like this make up for all the sacrifices made by Pantelleria's viticulture, where the cultivation of vines , which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage, makes the island's landscape unique.
