COS Pithos Bianco Anfora 2023

Azienda Agricola Cos farms in Vittoria, in south-east Sicily, on soils of red sand over limestone that drain well and reflect the strong southern light. The estate, founded in 1980 by three friends whose initials give the name, was an early model for natural winemaking in Sicily, working without added yeasts or corrective chemistry to keep the intrinsic minerality of the site. Pithos Bianco is made from Grecanico Dorato fermented and aged in pithos, large terracotta amphorae buried in the ground. The grapes spend time on their skins, which draws tannin and colour and gives the wine its amber tone and firm texture, while the porous clay allows a small, steady oxygen exchange that builds savoury complexity without the flavour of oak. At only 11 percent alcohol the wine stays fresh and lifted. The colour is light amber. The nose carries apricot, orange peel, dried herbs and almond, with a chalky, earthy edge. The palate is dry, gently tannic and saline, finishing long and mineral. Serve at 12 to 14 degrees in a standard white glass. It pairs with grilled pork, firm white fish and roasted root vegetables.