A lightly macerated field blend from a very old vineyard ranging from 650-1000m high, tended by the irrepressible Giuseppe Scirto and Valeria Franco – a young couple making some of Etna’s most honest and typical wines.
The stated variety is Carricante but there’s a bit of Catarratto, Minella and Grecanico in this too. Three or more days skin fermentation with no temperature control. Defiantly cloudy with a light burnished amber colour.
Quite shy on the nose, with some herbal overtones and a hint of dried fruits and chamomile. But things really start to motor on the palate, with lively, salty fruit – baked plum and apricot, citrus peel and fine, elegant tannins underpinning the whole thing. Tight and mineral, and feels like it could do with a bit more bottle age for all the components to integrate a bit more.
Typical Etna energy here, with a proper volcanic lift – an exciting wine. Right now, it’s a little strident, but after a year this could be in a very good place indeed.