January 6, 2023 - 100% Nerello Mascalese sourced from two Contrada: Rampante and Solicchiata. The 80-90 yo vines are prephylloxeric, growing ungrafted on their own root systems. Macerated with the skins for 18 days. Aged for 14 months in French oak tonneaux. 14% alcohol.
Moderately deep, translucent and quite evolved pomegranate red color with faint maroon highlights. The nose feels dark-toned, somewhat evolved and subtly sweet-toned with attractive, layered aromas of wizened dark fruits and dried figs, some gamey tones, a little bit of pouch tobacco, light ferrous notes of blood, a hint of old leather and a volcanic touch of dry, smoky character. The wine feels dry, crunchy and somewhat sinewy on the palate with a silky texture, a medium body and moderately developed flavors of sour cherries and tart lingonberries, some gravelly mineral tones, a little bit of game or red meat, light ferrous notes of blood, a hint of tobacco and a touch of earth. The taste doesn't really have any sweet elements - not even any evolved dried-fruit tones. The overall feel is pretty structured, thanks to its high acidity and moderately grippy medium tannins. The finish is dry, firm and quite acid-driven with a long, layered aftertaste of crunchy redcurrants and lingonberries, some sour cherry bitterness, a little bit of tobacco, light gravelly mineral nuances, a volcanic hint of vague smoky character and a touch of game.
A nice, serious and sinewy Etna Rosso. Tasty and firm, although not as tough and aggressive as the 2014 vintage. The overall feel is somewhat evolved, but not really old in any way. Not as intense and impressive as the 2014 vintage, but very close. Excellent stuff made in a positively unapologetic, structure-driven style. Terrific.
January 26, 2020 - Better leave in bottle for two hours before serving.
April 23, 2019 - If a strawberry could be as hard, dry, and rough as a brick, and you dipped it in balsamic vinegar, that would be this wine right now.
In case you weren't sure, I wasn't burying a compliment in there.
April 12, 2018 - Old vine 100% Nerello mascalese. On the first evening, this came off somewhat out of balance with prominent alcohol and oak tones layered over smoky cherry. Better the second night with receding alcohol. This tilts toward the modern, international style. Not a re-purchase for me.
October 3, 2016 - Very wild and not in harmoni this time
August 3, 2016 - At the winery with Giuseppe: Cherry skins, bit old slight oxy character (may have been opened a day or 2 ago); leather, a bit tough, balsamico, still elegant with peat moss, underlying forest berries, good structure. Not as I remember this before, could be open for too long. 14 mo. botte grande.
May 4, 2015 - Same note as last, but more hollow in mid palate. Accidity also more visible and dominating.
January 4, 2015 - Cool taste somehow similar to Barbaresco, but more mineral and more profound in alcohol. Light extraction and lightly pale colour already. Tasted 3 times actually.
December 7, 2013 - Dark garnet in color. The bouquet showed dusty, candied red cherries and the classic, distinct Etna volcanic minerality. Based on the color and bouquet, I expected this to be heavy, but it was actually fairly light in the mouth. There was a lot of acid and tannins, suggesting this would benefit from further aging, although it did open up in the glass. It paired well with a mushroom pasta, the acid helping to cut some of the fat in the butter sauce. RECOMMENDED.
October 5, 2013 - Dont open a good bottle while having a cold, its pointless (in many ways).