Graci Etna Rosso 2023

Graci Etna Rosso is an organic Nerello Mascalese from the Graci winery on the northern flank of Mount Etna in Sicily. The estate works only with native varieties and farms the volcanic terraces with sustainability in mind, both in the vineyard and the cellar. Etna is one of Europe's most distinctive wine landscapes: the dark, free draining soils are made of weathered lava, ash and volcanic sand, poor in nutrients and rich in minerals, while the high altitude of the vineyards gives cold nights and a long, slow ripening that preserves acidity and gives Nerello Mascalese its pale colour and fine, almost Pinot Noir like aromatics. Ageing in concrete rather than oak is the key choice here: the inert vessel allows a gentle, controlled micro oxygenation that settles the wine while leaving the fruit and the volcanic character untouched by wood. Expect a pale ruby colour, a nose of red cherry, redcurrant and dried herbs over smoke and crushed stone, and a light to medium bodied palate with bright acidity, fine tannins and a savoury, mineral finish. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees, with roast duck or a mushroom risotto.