Mamertino di Milazzo is a wine produced in the province of Messina to the north-west of Sicily. A wine of ancient origin, it takes its name from the Mamertini, a mercenary people who arrived in Sicily from Campania, around 300 BC, called by Agathocles, the tyrant king of Syracuse. After conquering Messina they settled in the area and dedicated themselves to the cultivation of the vine. The wine they produced became highly appreciated by the Romans, including the emperor Julius Caesar, who wanted it in his banquets. It was considered one of the best wines of the time, so much so that Plinio il Vecchio places it in fourth place in a ranking of over one hundred wines. The Mamertino di Milazzo Casale di Mimmo is harmonious and enveloping, an expression of the encounter between the elegance of Nero d'Avola and the structure of Nocera, it presents itself to the eye with an intense red color, to the nose with a remarkable bouquet of hints of ripe fruit, while in the mouth it is firm, persistent and at the same time balanced. The harvest is done by hand the first week of October and then the wine is aged for 12 months in small oak barrels. Contains sulphites. Produced by Cantine Mimmo Paone - Corso Sicilia, 61/a - 98040 Torregrotta, Messina - Italy.
THE REVIEW OF MAMERTINO DI MILAZZO MIMMO PAONE BY LUCA STROPPA
The producer
For over 60 years, the Mimmo Paone winery has been engaged in the production of wines of absolute quality. Founded in Messina in the 1950s by Giuseppe Paone, the winery has been managed since 1991 by his son Mimmo who, still today, continues with great passion the work started by his father. The approximately 70 hectares of vineyard managed by the family are located in the most suitable areas of the island between 150 and 400 meters above sea level. The company produces labels that are a symbol of Messina's wine history, strongly linked to the typical flavors of the Sicilian tradition, such as its flagship wine, the Mamertino di Milazzo. This prestigious wine has contributed to the success of the winery which has now become a reference point for Sicilian wine lovers.
Best with
Excellent with red meats, game and Florentine steaks.
How to serve it
Serve at a temperature of 16-18 degrees centigrade in clear, transparent crystal goblets.
How to keep
The bottles should be laid horizontally in a cool, dark, humid wine-cellar.