Tenuta delle Terre Nere

Presented by the owner Marco de Grazia
MdG came to making wine in the slope of Etna when visiting a potential domain. He was a wine distributor in Florence back then.
He fell in love with the place and started buying parcels when local peasants (who were growing olive trees, apples, and grapes in the same parcel) deceased.
First harvest was in 2002 for the reds (nerello mascalese and pucino).
He started harvesting white (carricante) in 2014 in the Santo Spirito vineyard.

• 2017 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Bianco Cuvée delle Vigne Niche Santo Spirito 88 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  Closed nose at first. Med+ acidity and alcohol. Lots of citrus and green apples character. Tight, not much coming through, but there is tension and I believe it has potential.

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• 2016 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Bianco Cuvée delle Vigne Niche Santo Spirito 88 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  Some reduction on the nose, later blowing off. Here you do get notes of butter (the whites go through full malolactic fermentation). Some notes of honey and ripe apples
  There is a bit more balance than the 17s, less tension though and hence feels a bit flabby.

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• 2015 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Bianco Cuvée delle Vigne Niche Santo Spirito 87 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  Kind of an off-putting weird nose (cheesy). It's balanced, less weight in this one than the 16s.
  Improved in the glass and gained richness. Food wine for sure.

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• 2014 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Bianco Cuvée delle Vigne Niche Santo Spirito 90 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  Very Elegant nose, floral notes.
  On the palate, this is the best whites so far and yet it's first harvest (a case of beginner's luck?).
  Excellent concentration, acidity/fruit/alcohol are all in balance and long. Maybe a little weak in the mid-palate. Excellent wine.

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• 2016 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso 87 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  Charming nose of strawberry. On the palate it is good but I find it a bit short in lenght and complexity. Really good simple wine.

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• 2016 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso Guardiola 90 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  Rather more discreet on the nose with a smoky character, less exhuberantly fruity but so much more elegant. Some menthol too.
  Plenty of matter in this wine, concentrated and you get notes of elevage. Good wine, the tannins are not resolved just yet (slight astringency).

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• 2016 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso Santo Spirito 89 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  Finding some flashy red fruits on the nose (strawberry), this wine is open for business.
  Tannins are softer (riper due to the lower elevation of Santo Spirito vs Guardiola). Dark cherry, and rose on the palate. Med+ of everything, long and developing complexity.

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• 2016 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso San Lorenzo 93 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  Full on intensity of aromas on the nose (bacon, tar, black cherries). Magnificent on the palate, huge wine, it's long and complex and weighty and balanced. Ample and wide [Horizontal vs the Carderara (that was tasted stright after in the same flight) that is more vertical]. Excellent wine.

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• 2016 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana 92 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  This is equally as good as the San Lorenzo but way more discreet and sophisticated. They make a magnificent pair of wines, so different and yet so good.
  Terroir in very different between these 2 vineyards: San Lorenzo is richer while it is 100% volcanic stones in Calderara.

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• 2007 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso PrePhylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino 93 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  Fine nose of pot pourri (rose in particular), very Barolo in a sense.
  Massive concentration, wonderful balance. Lots of everything (alcohol, tannins, aromas, body, acidity) everywhere.
  This is the 2nd vintage of that wine whose name come from the man who sold the vineyard to Marco de Grazia. These are 140 yr-old vines, ungrafted.

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• 2011 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso PrePhylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino 91 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  Weaker nose, quite foxy actually.
  Nice touch on the palate, similar vein as the 07s with a touch less complexity and intensity of aromas. There clearly is a common trait though.
  These "Don Peppino" are quintessential food wines.

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• 2012 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso PrePhylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino 94 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  Lovely nose (blood orange, pomegranate), very delicate.
  Bright acidity, outstanding balance really. This is a wine to contemplate and take the time to sip it.
  At maturity but really no hurry to drink up those. In this flight (with 13s and 14s), the most complete. 93+

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• 2013 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso PrePhylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino 93 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  Difficult vintage.
  Like the 2012, great nose, a touch rounder maybe. Wonderful complexity and length. Youthful really vs the 12s. Very elegant wine. 93 today but there is potential for greater things with more age.

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• 2014 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso PrePhylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino 92 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  Sunny and hot year in Etna. Powerful nose of strawberry and some flowers too. It is in a good spot already, there is a sense of greatness (and freshness) despite the conditions of the vintage. Nothing is forced here.

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• 2015 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso PrePhylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino 96 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  I am lost for words now, this is simply SENSATIONNAL !! so glad I hold a couple of these beauties. Extraordinarily delicate and refined, and yet it is strong and vibrant. Out of this world complexity, in all fairness reminded me of the only la Tache I have ever tasted (the 09s). Truly, an incredible showing.

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• 2016 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Prephylloxera "La Vigna di Don Peppino" Calderara Sottana 94 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

  No notes taken at this point (this is the last wine of the night), this is again very very very good. Simply tight and young but it has everything in check and should deliver a splendid wine in a few years' time.
  Wait at least 3-4 years.

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The reds were very good to simply outstanding, the whites were fine but not up to the level.
Great tasting with Marco de Grazia who couldn't remember tasting all these wines at once. A privilege to having attended really.