Nerello Mascalese
75cl * Vegan * 14% ABV * Sicily, Italy
Not many wines can claim to be grown on the slopes of an active volcano but this one certainly can... and it's a famous one too - Etna.
Often touted as Italy’s answer to Burgundy, the wines of Etna made from the native Nerello Mascalese grape produce flavours not that dissimilar to Pinot Noir – such as sour cherry and wild strawberry, which in time become more savoury and spicy. The black lava and igneous rocks that make up soil are meant to give the wine a ferrous touch with notes of rhubarb and black pepper.
Pietradolce was founded in 2005 and has since come to own one of the largest collections of pre-Phylloxera vines on Mt Etna, some of which are up to 120 years old. Focussing exclusively on the native Nerello Mascalese and Carricante varieties, they produce a range of wines that are pure and terroir driven.
Serve between16C-18C with rich pork dishes, Italian charcuterie or a gutsy pizza.
"The 2023 Etna Rosso Pietradolce is a dark and brooding effort with a whiff of flowery
underbrush and ashen stone giving way to crushed black cherry. Silky smooth, it
sweeps across the palate with ripe wild berry fruit and a collage of sweet spice, all
guided by juicy acidity. The 2023 leaves a saturation of primary concentration and a
tinge of tart blackberry while finishing with tension. This is far from an easy-drinking,
simple Rosso. It should excel through medium-term cellaring."
92 Points, Eric Guido, Vinous