Sliced apples, lemons, wild herbs and some cream on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with an oily texture. Very fresh. Drink now.
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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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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. 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. 90
JULY 2022
Sallier de La Tour Inzolia Sicilia DOC 2021
![]() This has aromas of waxed lemons, jasmine, white tea and apricot stones. Light to medium body with bright acidity and a waxy, lemony palate. Crisp and very fresh. Drink now. 93
NOVEMBER 2021
Sallier de La Tour "La Monaca" Syrah Monreale DOC 2018
![]() Showing dark plum, ripe fruit, charred meat and scorched earth, the Tenuta Sallier de la Tour 2018 Monreale Syrah La Monaca is a perfect match of grape and territory. Syrah loves a hot climate, and Sicily loves Syrah. This is a robust and powerful expression of the grape that has absorbed much of the Sicilian sun, yet it remains elegantly mid-weight and contained throughout. This would be great with some grilled lamb sausage. 92
JULY 2022
Sallier de La Tour Syrah Sicilia DOC 2020
![]() This has aromas of olives, black fruit, cracked pepper and dried herbs. Meaty and savory, with firm, chewy tannins. Compact and medium-to full-bodied, with excellent concentration. Sustainable. Better after 2023. 91
JULY 2022
Sallier de La Tour Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC 2020
![]() A firm and lightly chewy nero d'avola with earth and spice and some mushroom undertones. Medium body, solid tannins and a fresh, savory finish. Sustainable. Drink now. 93
JUNE 2022
Sallier de La Tour "La Monaca" Syrah Monreale DOC 2019
![]() The 2019 Syrah La Monaca is dark and intense, with crushed black and hints of blue berries complemented by balsamic spices and hints of cocoa, yet it gains lift through a wave of mentholated herbs. This is silky and refined with medium-bodied weight, casting mineral-tinged black fruits and nuances of mocha and licorice across a core of brisk acidity that does a fantastic job of maintaining balance. The 2019 La Monaca finishes long and potent with sweet tannins that frame the expression well, as violet-tinged inner florals slowly fade. Another year or two of cellaring is recommended to help tame this sexy Sicilian Syrah. 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. |