Description

“When grapevines die and go to heaven, they wake-up in Pietradolce’s Barbagalli vineyard. I have only ever seen a handful of vineyards as beautiful as this spectacular terrestrial handshake between man and volcano. The 2012 Etna Rosso Vigna Barbagalli faithfully reflects the esthetic grandeur of this amphitheater of pre-phylloxera vines planted 900 meters up Etna’s blackened slope. On average, these knotted plants are more than 100-years-old. The wine opens to amazing intensity and purity with an enormous sense of integrity and balance. Dark berry fruit segues slowly to spice, leather, balsam herb and crushed mineral as the wine evolves in the glass. The wine’s finish is long and determined. Vigna Barbagalli is a revelation if you are looking for a reason to fall in love with Etna.

Pietradolce is my new Etna darling. This estate has always been on my radar, but the wines have never tasted as good as they do now. Michele Faro and his team (winemaker Carlo Ferrini is a consultant) have made impressive leaps and bounds in quality – from the stunning historic vineyards they own to the immaculately designed gravity winery that is coated with slabs of volcanic stone. Construction was almost done when I visited the estate this spring. Located in Solicchiata on the northern side of the volcano, Pietradolce boasts some of the most beautiful vineyards I have ever seen. I cannot exaggerate this point. The Vigna Barbagalli is located a steep 900 meters on the volcano’s flank. Once you climb up there, you are treated to a panorama of ancient, knotted pre-phylloxera vines hidden in a little amphitheater of volcanic rock. 2016 -2030.” – 95 points, Wine Advocate, Monica Larner, Sept 2015