Community Tasting Note

forceberry wrote:

Tuesday, September 8, 2020 - A blend of Nerello Mascalese (90%) and Nerello Cappuccio (10%) from a 39 yo vineyard located at 450 to 550 m above sea level. Aged in stainless steel and French tonneaux. 13,5% alcohol. Tasted blind.

Pale, luminous and fully translucent rose hip color with a thin, pinkish rim. Very youthful, fragrant and moderately sweet-toned nose with aromas of marmaladey red fruits, black cherries and dark plums, some brambly black raspberries, light smoky notes of gunpowder reduction, a little bit of stony minerality, a hint of licorice and a touch of raw meat. The wine is youthful, dry and rich yet rather tightly-knit on the palate with intense flavors of raspberries, pronounced stony minerality, some sweet strawberries, a little it of marmaladey cherry-driven fruit, light licorice tones, a hint of smoky volcanic character and a touch of arctic bramble. Although the overall feel is very ripe and sunny, the wine doesn't come across as heavy or particularly sweet-toned on the palate. The structure relies on both high acidity and powdery yet quite grippy tannins. The finish is rich, juicy and moderately grippy with lengthy flavors of black cherries, some ripe strawberries and plums, a little bit of marmaladey strawberry, light smoky tones, a hint of stony minerality and a touch of licorice.

A very harmonious, juicy and delicious Etna Rosso. Although very ripe and sunny in style, this wine doesn't suffer from the elevated levels of alcohol that can go up to 15% in many modern Etna reds. Instead this is very well-proportioned, balanced and more dry than sweet despite all the marmaladey undertones. The overall feel is maybe a bit too youthful, primary and tightly-knit for my taste and I guess I should hold on to my single remaining bottle as long as I can. Very good value at 17€.

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