2017 Wine of the Sea (Ocone Winery) APOLLO Taburno D.O.C.G. Italy (6-bottle case)

Winery Notes

"Submerging wines underwater for several months gave way to experimentation that brought Marko to ”Wine of the Sea”. A form of ”ageing” wines under the sea proved to be something that changed the wines. Very soon did he and the winemakers whose wines he sunk realize that the structure of the wine had changed, bringing them a wine that differs greatly from the same one resting in the cellars on land."

"Wines selected for submersion are among the world’s finest even before entering the Adriatic, but not every fine wine is made to be submerged. Each wine selected fits a specific set of characteristics that make it a qualified candidate for this aging process.

Each bottle is equipped with a special composite cork and sealed with two layers of wax ensuring that the bottles allow nothing to enter them while submerged."

"The bottles are placed 100-feet below the water’s surface. The conditions at these depths make nature’s greatest wine cellar.

• Temperatures are consistently cool
• Zero light from the sun is able to reach the bottles
• Aging is intensified and accelerated under tremendous pressure
• Waves keep the bottles in motion, forcing molecular breakdown for a constant smoothing of the wine

Each bottle spends a minimum of one year under water, depending on what variety of wine is submerged. Some bottles are left to age for as many as two years."

"The grapes of Apollo come from the volcanic hillsides around the town of Ponte, where the vineyards are famed organically and grapes are hand-picked to make the most clean and precise expression of Aglianico del Taburno. Fermented using indigenous yeasts and briefly aged in wood, it is ensured that terroir is the sheer focus of this wine. The bouquet displays aromas of cherries and pepper, layered with spices, black tea, and tar. Full-bodied and dry, yet surprisingly approachable. Apollo is suited for both immediate drinking and cellaring."

About the Winery:
"Ocone is a small, family winery based in the foothills of Taburno, just outside Napoli. Founded in 1910 by Giuseppe Ocone and reinvented in the 1960s by his son, Domencio, the focus has always been on Taburno’s previously forgotten grapes – Aglianico, Greco, and Falanghina. The estate has been renowned for its quality and philosophy ever since. The transition to organic cultivation of these ancient varieties has established Ocone as a world-class producer. At the moment, the winery is run by Giorgio and Roberta Vergona, who continue to combine tradition and modernity."