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Gueli

U'Russu Nero d'Avola 2019

Price: $27.95
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Tasting notes

U'Russu punches well above its category: the high-altitude Grotte vineyards keep acidity lively and the chalk-talc soils add a stony, salty mineral thread through ripe blueberry and licorice fruit. At only 1,800 bottles imported to the US, it is a genuinely small-production, zero-additive Sicilian red that tastes like somewhere specific.

BodyFruitTanninAcidity
BlueberryLicoriceBlack PepperSalt
  • Style: Dry, medium-bodied red; deep purple-red; blueberry, licorice, dried herbs, salty mineral; 13.5% ABV
  • Grapes & Terroir: Nero d'Avola with Bianco Giovani, Quattro Rappe, Catanese Nero; organic; chalky Trubi and limestone-clay soils; 450-550m, Grotte, Agrigento
  • Winemaking: Indigenous yeast fermentation; open-top cement tanks; unfined, unfiltered; zero added sulfites (6-15 mg/L total SO2)
  • Serving: Serve at 61-64°F; decant 30 min or open the day before
  • Pairing: Grilled lamb, braised pork with olives, pasta alla Norma, aged Piacentinu Ennese
  • Similar To: For fans of earthy, mineral Grenache or southern Italian reds like Cerasuolo di Vittoria who want zero-additive winemaking

U'Russu is the entry-level red from Azienda Agricola Gueli, a family estate in Grotte, province of Agrigento, in south-central Sicily. The vineyards sit at 450 to 550 metres above sea level, about 25 kilometres inland from the southern coast, on two distinct soil types: pale chalky "Trubi" soils similar to talcum, and stony limestone-clay "Calcari della Scintilia" parcels. The estate spans 10 hectares of vines and almond orchards, all farmed organically.

U'Russu is built on Nero d'Avola co-fermented with small quantities of local varieties including Bianco Giovani, Quattro Rappe, and Catanese Nero. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts in open-top cement tanks. The wine is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with no added sulfites. Total SO2 runs between 6 and 15 mg/L from natural fermentation alone.

In the glass, U'Russu shows deep purple-red. The nose delivers ripe blueberry, licorice, and dried herbs with a mineral, slightly salty edge. On the palate it is medium-bodied with fine but present tannins, more grip than you expect at first pour, and a crunchy, fresh finish driven by the high-elevation diurnal temperature swing. Open a day before serving or decant for 30 minutes to let it settle.

Pair with grilled lamb chops seasoned with oregano, braised pork with black olives, or a pasta alla Norma. The wine's herbal edge and firm tannins also hold up well against aged Sicilian sheep's milk cheeses like Piacentinu Ennese.

Wine details

Dry/Sweet:, Dry
Wine Type:, Red Wine
Wine Style:, Medium Body
Grapes:, Nero d'Avola, Bianco Giovani, Quattro Rappe, Catanese Nero
Farming:, Organic
Vintage:, 2019
Alcohol:, 13.5%
Country:, Italy
Region:, Sicily
Appellation:, Terre Siciliane IGT
Bottle Size:, 750ml
Sugar Level:, Zero Added Sugar

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.


Important Compliance Requirements

FedEx and other carriers we might occasionally use can only deliver wine to customers who are 21 years or older. Someone must be at the address to receive the package, carriers don't just drop a package and leave. They must ensure the person receiving the wine is 21 or older.


Re-shipping a Package

If a package is returned to us after three failed delivery attempts, we can only re-ship the wine upon payment of a re-shipping fee, to be determined based on the shipping address and number of bottles. Shipping wine is extremely expensive. We are sorry about this, but we have no other choice. Please make sure there's always someone at the address you enter as your shipping address.

If you'd like to receive a refund for a package that was returned to us after FedEx made three delivery attempts, we can do that but we must keep a $20 refund fee; FedEx charges us a lot of money for returns, unfortunately, I can't stress this enough.


Re-routing a Package

If you'd like to reroute a package after it's been shipped, we can do so for a $20 re-routing fee. We cannot re-route a package across state borders. For any change of address, please contact us as soon as possible, ideally within 1-2 days from placing the order or we cannot guarantee we'll be able to reroute or change your order's shipping address.


Canceling an Order

If you'd like to cancel an order after it's been shipped, we can do so upon payment of a small cancellation fee – the amount depends on the size of the order. Carriers charge us a lot of money to recall a package en-route.


Heat/Frost damage

We are not responsible for heat- or frost-related issues. We offer ice-packs upon request. Please let us know if you think that there could be heat-related issues. If we don't hear anything from you regarding weather issues before an order is shipped, or if you don't request a hold due to the weather, we are not responsible for heat/frost damage.


Placed an order. What next?

1. You will receive an order confirmation email with your order summary.*

2. As soon as your order ships from the warehouse, usually within 2-3 business days, this applies to all shipping rates, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with your tracking information. 2DAY shipping refers to shipping time; we still need 2-3 business days to prepare an order. We need to pick and pack, QA, add printed collateral, and palletize the orders.

3. Please track your package using the tracking service.

4. The carrier will attempt delivery a maximum of 3 times. After 3 delivery attempts, your package will be sent back to our warehouse.**

*Please ensure your email address is correct; otherwise, you will not receive the order and shipping confirmation emails.

**If delivery is attempted 3 times without success, or if you fail to retrieve your package from the carrier depot by the stated deadline, the shipping fee will not be refunded to the customer.

Returns Policy

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us at (424) 414-2040 or via e-mail at hello@primalwine.com between 9 am and 5 pm Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Sunday, we would like to understand and try to solve your concerns. We can offer refunds only as store credit.

Producer profile

Gueli

Azienda Agricola Gueli was founded in 1986 by Vincenzo Gueli in Grotte, province of Agrigento, in south-central Sicily, not far from the Valley of the Temples. The estate covers 10 hectares divided between vineyards and almond orchards. Vincenzo's three sons, Giuseppe, Calogero, and Davide, now manage day-to-day farming and winemaking.

The Gueli vineyards are planted in two distinct soil zones. The 'Trubi' or 'Erbatini' parcels in the locality of Rametta feature pale, chalky soils with a talc-like consistency and low skeleton content, which keep the ground cool and add mineral depth to the wine. The 'Calcari della Scintilia' parcels are stony and limestone-clay, contributing freshness and drinkability. All vines are trained on the traditional 'Tendone' pergola system and farmed organically without chemical fertilisers. Harvesting is done by hand at the end of September.

Winemaking at Gueli is non-interventionist. Fermentation uses indigenous yeasts captured separately from each vineyard parcel and takes place in open-top cement containers holding approximately 2,000 kg each, with frequent manual punch-downs. The wine is bottled without fining, filtration, or added sulfur dioxide. Total SO2 from natural fermentation alone measures between 6 and 15 mg/L. U'Russu is the estate's entry-level bottling, produced in very small quantities; only 1,800 bottles were imported to the United States in the 2019 vintage.

Wine region

Sicily, Italy

Sicily is Italy's largest wine-growing region by vineyard area. The island has a Mediterranean climate overall, with hot dry summers and cool wet winters, but elevation, proximity to the sea, and soil type create significant variation across the island. Inland zones like Agrigento province sit further from maritime influence and rely on altitude for diurnal temperature shifts to preserve acidity in the grapes. Grotte, where Gueli farms, sits roughly 450 to 550 metres above sea level, about 25 kilometres from the southern coast.

The Terre Siciliane IGT covers the entire island and its satellite islands, established as a regional designation in 2011. It allows for single-varietal and blended wines from a wide range of approved varieties. Nero d'Avola is the island's most important red grape, planted across approximately 15,500 hectares. In the Agrigento province, soils shift between chalky white 'Trubi' formations and stony limestone-clay parcels, both of which are relatively infertile and well-draining, favouring low yields and concentrated fruit.

Frequently asked question

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.

Signature on delivery is mandatory for wine deliveries. Please make sure someone is at the shipping address to sign for the package.

If applicable, please consider delivering the package to a business address to ensure someone is available to sign for the package.

We also have the option of delivering the package to a Carrier's store for pickup. Please reach out to us to coordinate.

Carrier will try to delivery a package up to three times before returning the package to us.

See here our shipping policy.

If you miss a delivery and a package gets returned to us we have two options:

1) Reship the package right away: due to the very high cost of shipping and returns, we must charge a re-shipping fee to be determined based on package size and shipping destination.

2) Consolidate the returned package with your next order: this option is free of charge and it's the most popular option.

See here our shipping policy.

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