Description
The two new white Crus, Santo Spirito, and Calderara Sottana feature Carricante grapes from old and young vines, for Carricante is a rare commodity in a D.O.C. overwhelmingly devoted to reds, rarer still on Etna’s Northern slopes. In fact, Carricante vineyards answer for only 4% of the appellation. Both wines are barrel fermented, undergo malolactic fermentation and are aged in French oak barriques for ten months, followed by 8 months of refinement in bottle before release.
These are late blooming wine of unusual complexity and great longevity, which will reward you for your patience with a rare, noble beauty.
Area of production: | Contrada Santo Spirito, township of Castiglione di Sicilia (Catania) |
Varietals: | Carricante |
Vineyard extension: | 1,5 hectars. |
Production per hectar: | 6 tons per hectar. |
Soil: | Deep, soft and dark volcanic soil, rich in volcanic ash. |
Exposure: | Northern slope of Mount Etna, from 700 up to 750 meters a.s.l. |
Age of vines: | 40-100 years old. |
Annual production: | 6.000 bottles (0,75 lt). |
“This is the most subtle and polished white from Etna I have had, offering a dense, integrated palate of apple, pineapple and stone character with some lemon grass and lemon curd. It’s dense and so focused with so much going on. Tight now, but promises a beautiful future. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.” – 95 points, James Suckling