Etna Rosso 2018, Benanti

£21.95

Fresh and lively, with pure cherry and strawberry fruit, fine gentle tannins and an earthy minerality. Super balance. A wine with hidden depths.

Colour

Red

Country

Italy

Domaine

Benanti Viticoltori

Grape

Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese

Region

Sicily

Vintage

2018

Description

The Wine is a blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, which are both late ripening due to the range in diurnal temperature and the cooling effect of their high location at about 600 meters above sea level on the Northern slopes of the volcano. The two varieties are growing on a mix of sandy and volcanic soil. Vinified seperately in stianless steel using indigenous yeasts, with a maceration of about 15 days. After malolactic fermentation, 20% of the Nerello Mascalese is aged in French oak barriques for eight to ten months, with the rest of the wine maturing in stainless steel. Followed by a further 3 months of bottle refinement.

Almost a Beaujolais lightness and freshness, but also some of Burgundy’s effortless, weightless concentration and rich heart. Lovely nose – lifted dry cherry and spice. The palate is fresh and lively, with pure cherry and strawberry fruit, fine gentle tannins and an earthy minerality. Super balance. A wine with hidden depths.

Silvia says
“The wines from Sicily have grown in reputation over the past decade or so, and with good reason. Coming from volcanic soils these wines produce a lovely precise quality that’s have direct fruit and tensity but ultimately eminently drinkable. The structure allows for drinking by itself but has the complexity to work very well with a broad selection of cuisines.”

About the Domaine

The Benanti winery was founded in 1988 by Giuseppe Benanti. Wine had been produced by the family for several generations, mostly for private consumption, until Giuseppe finally decided to establish the winery with the aim of preserving the unique terroir of Etna’s volcanic slopes, whilst cherishing and developing the indigenous Etnean varieties.

The winery is now run by Giuseppe’s two sons Antonio and Salvino who have continued the original aim to respect the varietal characteristics of the Etnean varieties, by adopting and maintaining a very traditional approach and philosophy. Their focus is on growing indigenous grape varieties such as Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante and Minnella.

The area provides a unique microclimate due partly to the proximity to the sea, partly to the volcanic soil and also to the cone-shaped surface of the slopes which provide excellent exposure to the sun. The sea breezes and the altitude ensure the grapes are cooled in what would otherwise be a very hot climate, and therefore the ripening process reaches its full potential but, crucially, without being rushed.

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