2019 Tenuta dell Terre Nere Santo Spirito Etna BIANCO, Sicilia, Italy

2019 Tenuta dell Terre Nere Santo Spirito Etna BIANCO, Sicilia, Italy

$65.95

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