Passopisciaro Contrada C 2017

Contrada C comes from a single high-altitude site on the north face of Mount Etna in Sicily, farmed by Passopisciaro from old Nerello Mascalese vines. The contrada system bottles each parcel separately to show its own patch of ground, and these vineyards sit on black volcanic soils of weathered lava and ash that drain freely and give the wine its smoky, mineral character. Etna is a cool, high site, and the altitude with its sharp swing between hot days and cold nights stretches the season, holding acidity and building fine, savoury aromatics in a thin-skinned, late-ripening grape. The wine spends eighteen months in neutral oak barrels, which let it settle and soften while adding no wood flavour, keeping the fruit and the volcanic signature in front. Farming is organic. The colour is pale and garnet. The nose shows ripe cherry, dried fig, white and black pepper, dried herbs and woodsmoke, with red currant freshness. The palate is medium bodied with high acidity, fine grippy tannins and a long, savoury, stony finish. Serve at 16C. It works with duck, game and mushroom dishes.