Eduardo Torres Arenaria 2022

Arenaria is an organic red from Eduardo Torres Acosta, a winegrower who trained in Sicily under Arianna Occhipinti and at Passopisciaro before bottling his own wines on Mount Etna. It is built around Nerello Mascalese with other native red varieties, grown on the volcanic slopes of the Etna IGT Terre Siciliane. The black volcanic soils are free-draining and rich in minerals, and the altitude of the Etna vineyards brings cool nights and a long growing season that keeps the wine pale, perfumed and high in acidity rather than heavy. Nerello Mascalese behaves much like Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo here, giving translucent colour but real structure and a savoury, stony character. The wine ages 12 months in 500-litre French oak barrels, a larger format that lets the fruit breathe and softens the tannins without adding obvious wood. It pours a pale ruby. The nose is red berry and cherry with dried herbs, woodsmoke and a touch of rose. The palate is light to medium in body, with bright acidity, fine grippy tannin and an earthy, mineral finish. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees. Good with roast poultry and game birds.