2022 Cometa

The Planeta wines provide something for everyone while delivering fantastic consistency and value. Throughout most regions in the world, the assumption remains that the larger the producer, the lower the level of quality, yet these stereotypes cannot be applied here. Over the course of decades, Planeta has grown into a powerhouse producer of Sicilian wine, with five individual wineries set up across the island. Each winery and its individual team are specialized for the territory and varieties surrounding it; Alessio Planeta oversees it all. In speaking with him, it’s easy to see how the company has maintained such high quality and consistency. His passion, respect for traditions and desire to see Sicily succeed as a whole are unparalleled. Even when touring a newly planted vineyard, or a newly built fermentation room or barrel-aging facility, it quickly becomes evident that Alessio Planeta was intricately involved in every aspect of the conceptualization and construction from start to finish. Stylistically speaking, I find a polish that runs across the entire portfolio. Whether it's through international or indigenous varieties, Planeta over-delivers with regional and varietal character.
What’s more, the wines can age beautifully. Surprisingly, when I asked to taste an older vintage, Alessio Planeta picked a 2014 Cerasuolo di Vittoria instead of one of their higher-profile bottlings. This sub-$30 bottle has matured beautifully over ten years. This year’s tasting was conducted at their Menfi facility along with winemaker Patricia Toth. During our time together, Toth spoke in depth about the importance of place within the Planeta portfolio, another topic you wouldn’t expect from such a large producer. While traversing vineyard roads and taking in the natural floral and fauna of the surroundings across Planeta’s Menfi estate, Toth explained: “Across the world, winemakers speak about adding biodiversity to their vineyards, but in Sicily, it’s more about maintaining the natural biodiversity that has always existed.” Ultimately, I’ve always respected the quality found in each bottle of Planeta’s wines, but I came away from this trip with a newfound respect for the people and places that produce them.