Passopisciaro Passorosso 2021

Passopisciaro makes Passorosso from Nerello Mascalese grown on the northern face of Mount Etna in Sicily, a grape often compared to Nebbiolo for its pale colour, firm structure and savoury character. The vineyards sit at altitude on the volcano's terraced slopes, where the black soils of weathered lava and volcanic ash, free draining and mineral rich, give the wine its smoky, stony signature. Etna is markedly cool for Sicily, and the wide gap between warm days and cold nights preserves acidity and builds aromatic complexity in old, often ungrafted vines. The wine is aged for eighteen months in a combination of concrete and oak. The concrete and large-format wood allow a slow, gentle oxygen exchange that settles the firm tannins without masking the fruit, while the volcanic minerality stays to the fore. The colour is a translucent ruby red. The nose shows wild berries and blackcurrant with ash, leather and a smoky, peppery lift. The palate is structured and savoury, the tannins fine and persistent in the Nerello manner, the acidity high, the finish long and mineral. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant young. It suits roasted meats, game and earthy dishes.