Tenuta Delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso 2023

Tenuta delle Terre Nere sits on the northern flank of Mount Etna in Sicily, where brothers Marco and Sebastian De Grazia have farmed for more than thirty years. This organic red is the blend that defines the appellation, mainly Nerello Mascalese with a little Nerello Cappuccio, worked with minimal intervention. Etna's soils are decomposed black lava and volcanic ash over old flows, free-draining and rich in minerals, and the high vineyard elevation on the mountain brings cool nights and a long growing season. That altitude and the wide diurnal range hold firm acidity and give Nerello its pale colour, fine tannin and perfumed character, closer to Nebbiolo or Pinot Noir than to a warm-climate Sicilian red. Barrel ageing rounds the structure while keeping the fruit transparent. The wine is light to medium in colour, with a nose of red cherry, redcurrant, dried herbs and a distinct smoky, ashy minerality drawn from the volcanic ground. The palate is fresh and savoury, with grippy but fine tannin and a long, stony finish. Serve at 16 degrees. It suits duck, lamb and mushroom dishes.