Frank Cornelissen Munjebel Bianco 2022

Frank Cornelissen is a Belgian grower who settled on the northern face of Mount Etna in north-eastern Sicily, drawn by the mountain's unusual geology and climate. He follows a natural approach, avoiding treatments in the vineyard and additions in the cellar. Munjebel Bianco is a blend of the island's white grapes, Grecanico Dorato and Carricante, grown at altitude on Etna's terraced slopes. The soils are black volcanic sand and broken lava, rich in minerals and very free-draining, while the height brings cool nights and a wide day-to-night temperature swing that locks in acidity and aroma. The wine is fermented with native yeasts and aged on its lees, which builds texture and a savoury depth without the need for new oak, letting the volcanic character stand out. It is pale gold, often with a faint haze from the unfiltered, low-intervention handling. The nose shows lemon, green apple and white peach over dried thyme, sea salt and a distinct smoky, flinty note, and the palate is dry, taut and saline, the fruit tightly wound around a stony, mineral core that runs into a long finish. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees.