I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna Pistus 2024

I Custodi delle Vigne dell'Etna farms organically on the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily, where viticulture goes back three thousand years. Pistus is an Etna Rosso built mainly on Nerello Mascalese, with a portion of Nerello Cappuccio for colour and flesh. The vineyards grow at altitude on black volcanic soils made of decomposed lava, ash and sand, a free-draining, mineral-rich terroir that, combined with the cool mountain nights, gives Etna reds their pale colour, high acidity and savoury character rather than weight. Nerello Mascalese is a late-ripening, transparent grape often compared to Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir for the way it shows its site. The wine is raised in stainless steel and concrete rather than new oak, neutral vessels that preserve the bright fruit and the volcanic minerality and let the terroir speak, followed by a short rest in bottle. It pours a pale ruby. The nose offers red cherry and wild berries with dried herbs, woodsmoke, orange peel and a stony, mineral note. The palate is medium bodied, with fresh acidity, fine sandy tannins and a savoury, mineral finish. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees. It suits game, mushrooms, roast pork and hard cheese.