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Just outside the bustling epicenter of Palermo in Northwest Sicily lies the Alto Belice - a fascinating landscape and cultural crossroads. It’s here that the Monte Jato archaeological park preserves important structures dating back to the Magna Graecia settlements. The nearby town of Monreale is among the most evocative towns of the island and is famous for its magnificent medieval cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s also here that the Sallier de La Tour winery and estate has been located for over a century.
The Estate has belonged to the Sallier de La Tour family, Princes of Camporeale, since the mid-nineteenth century. Originally from the Piedmont region of Italy, the family moved to Sicily in the 18th century. They built the winery—La Monaca—in 1909, its name inspired by the highest hill found on the property, which is located just behind the Estate. In the 1940s, Paolo Sallier de La Tour increased the family’s interest in viticulture with a particular focus on native varietals Nero d’Avola and Inzolia. In 1956, Paolo Sallier de La Tour married Costanza Tasca d’Almerita, joining the two noble families together.
While viticulture had been a function of the estate for many years, Filiberto Sallier de La Tour, Paolo’s son, started experimenting with other varietals, most notably Syrah, which had been cultivated in the region for decades. During this time, Filiberto also began making the first estate wines under the family’s name, releasing the first commercially produced bottles labelled Sallier de La Tour in the early 2000s. In 2008, Filiberto approached his cousin, Alberto Tasca, with the idea of joining Sallier de la Tour with the renowned Tasca d’Almerita family of wineries. Having long been impressed with his cousin’s passion and the family’s deep ties to their land, Alberto agreed, and the two families started a new chapter in the estate’s history.
Today, the Estate is managed by Costanza Chirivino, a member of the Sallier de La Tour family, with the support of the Tasca d’Almerita team. Costanza's energy and enthusiasm for her family's legacy is infectious, as is her knowledge of and affinity for the region. In addition to managing the commercial aspects of the Estate, Alberto Tasca also included the Sallier de La Tour in the company’s sustainable initiatives. This enables and ensures that the entire property is managed according to the tenants of SOStain, a sustainability program that requires third-party certification of the estate’s impact on air, water, soil, and surrounding territory, as well as environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
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LOCATIONWINERY: Alto Belice, province of Palermo, Sicily VINEYARD: Area of Monreale VIEW IN GOOGLE MAPS REGION DETAILS |
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93
DECEMBER 2021
Sallier de La Tour "Madamarosè" Rosato Sicilia DOC 2020
 EDITOR'S CHOICE Savory and inviting, this has alluring scents of wild berries, citrus, Mediterranean brush and sea breeze. It's crisp, dry and delicious, delivering juicy Morello cherry, pomegranate and dark spice notes set against crisp acidity. 93+
JUNE 2021
Sallier de La Tour "La Monaca" Syrah Monreale DOC 2018
 The 2018 Syrah La Monaca is an inky purple color in the glass. It offers a dark and seductive bouquet that mixes blackberries and plum sauce with balsamic spice, brown sugar and hints of peppery herbs. Its textures are silky-smooth, casting ripe black fruits over a medium-bodied frame. The density and richness here tempt the imagination as fine tannins and minerals saturate under an air of violet florals. This finishes incredibly long, to notes of salted licorice and currants. The La Monaca is already highly enjoyable for its concentration and sheer potential, but it will blossom after a few years of cellaring. These vines were planted in 2011 in a mix of sand, clay and limestone at the Sallier de La Tour estate in the northwest section of the island. Considering how well the 2018 is showing, I can only imagine what more vine age will bring. 89
JUNE 2022
Sallier de La Tour Inzolia Sicilia DOC 2021
The 2021 Inzolia is sweetly scented but also finessed and floral, with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar and spice that gives way to ripe pear and hints of cardamom. This rushes the palate with soft textures, yet quickly takes on a reverberation of spicy green citrus, as nuances of tropical melon form toward the close. A salty flourish defines the finale, as the 2021 tapers off wickedly fresh and squeaky-clean, while leaving the mouth watering for more. 93
JULY 2022
Sallier de La Tour "La Monaca" Syrah Monreale DOC 2019
 This syrah shows an impressive dark color, with aromas of cloves and other spices, as well as smoked meat and dark fruit. Medium to full body. Curated tannins that are polished and focused. Very solid and delicious. Drink now. 89
JUNE 2022
Sallier de La Tour Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC 2020
The 2020 Nero d'Avola is both classically floral and finessed, but with intense depths of dark red berries and exotic spices that keep me coming back to the glass. Its textures are silky, with violet-laced wild berries and mineral tones that create a savory expression toward the close. This leaves a coating of grippy tannins and hints of sour citrus while tapering off with persistence. If checking in today, make sure to enjoy the 2020 alongside a meal. That said, I expect a year of cellaring should add some softer contours. 91
JULY 2022
Sallier de La Tour "Madamarosè" Rosato Sicilia DOC 2021
Pomegranate and peach aromas and flavors. It's a fuller rosé with lots of fruit and flavor. Peach and melon with some orange-peel undertones. Slightly oily. Drink now. 92
DECEMBER 2022
Sallier de La Tour Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC 2020
 $25 AND UNDER STEALS Absolutely delicious and stunning for the price. Loads of cherry/blueberry fruit, plus a streak of spiciness, and terrific structure. Mouth-filling and long. 91
AUGUST 2021
Sallier de La Tour Inzolia Sicilia DOC 2020
Sliced apples, lemons, wild herbs and some cream on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with an oily texture. Very fresh. Drink now. |
