2012 Frank Cornelissen - MunJebel Rosso 9 Vigne Alte (93 pts)

- Medium- ruby color. Pronounced intensity on the nose. Bright red fruit of raspberry, sour cherry, and red currant. Extremely floral showing violets and lilacs. Finally strong mineral aromas of wet rock and chalk. High acidity, medium silky and fine grained tannins, high alcohol but well integrated, and medium+ body. The palate is similar to the nose. The ripe raspberry and red currant preserves throughout. The mid palate highlights the chalky texture. The flowers come across as more dried like potpourri combined with rocks on the long finish. This wine is gorgeous! In previous vintages I have noticed a lot of variation and funk, but this is superb. My favorite of the Cru bottlings, by far the most elegant. You had my high altitude and 80+ year old ungrafted vines. Well done.

 2012 Frank Cornelissen - MunJebel Rosso 9 Vigne Alte (93

Blind Nerello Mascalese Tasting - 7 wines, but sadly 1 was corked. Stacked rank in my order of preference, not the group. Needless to say Tenuta delle Terre Nere scored really well. Guardiola Contrada really opened up nicely over the tasting and was very elegant. Santo Spirito a close 2nd was more brooding and needs more time. My number 3, but group number 1 was the basic etna rosso. It really showed well very bright red fruit and well balanced. Allegracore was fairly dark in comparison to the others. I will say if Vigo was in this lineup, I think it would have done very well. Passorosso (recently renamed) tasted as a base etna rosso, pleasant but more on the sour side of red fruit with cranberry and red currant. Munjebel is a wine I can call blind almost every time. While I respect natural wine philosophy it doesn't matter if the wine doesn't taste good. All of that being said his contradas have given me amazing glimpses into his madness at times.

 Blind Nerello Mascalese Tasting - 7 wines, but sadly 1 was

Filming a few episodes of Wine Terroir today. A 3-part series on the wines of Mt Etna.·

 Filming a few episodes of Wine Terroir today. A 3-part

2012 Frank Cornelissen - MunJebel Rosso CS (90 pts)

ℹ️ This bottle is technically labeled as a Terre Siciliane IGT in this vintage, but post 2015 is being labeled as Etna Rosso DOP. CS stands for Chiusa Spagnolo which is a single vineyard of ungrafted (aka ownrooted) 💯 Nerello Mascalese that was planted in the 1920s.This vineyard is located in Contrada Zottorinoto which is the name of a specific lava flow on the North side of Mt Etna 🌋. This Contrada is only 620m above sea level, which is considered low elevation for Mt Etna. Chiusa Spagnolo forms a bowl or amphitheatre that has a wall of lava isolating it from the rest of the Contrada creating a unique micro climate·

👀 Medium ruby color with a slight garnet rim, very noticeable tears on the side of the glass·

👃 Medium+ intensity on the nose. Aromas of raspberry, red plum, juniper, violets, thyme, and tilled earth. I will note that I am getting some Volatile Acidity, but it is lifting the aromatics and not over the top·

👅 The wine is dry. Medium+ acidity. Medium+ alcohol and despite the bottle saying 15% ABV, it doesn't feel hot🔥. Medium+ furry tannins that coat the teeth. Medium+ body. Similar notes on the palate as the nose. Additionally there is a wet rock mineral flavor that is quite pervasive and a funky low sulphur yeasty note, especially on the back palate. The finish is long and the floral and juniper flavors ride that wave·

🔔 Overall this is a very complex wine with a lot going on. This is powerful and ripe which represents the 2012 vintage on Mt Etna. If you don't like a touch of volatile acidity or natural wine funk then this is probably not for you. Personally, I can tolerate the former more than the latter. This is still evolving and can be cellared for at least a decade. If I had to choose a MunJebel Cru, Vigna Alta (VA) is still my favorite·

 2012 Frank Cornelissen - MunJebel Rosso CS (90 pts)

Part 1 of a 3 part series on the wines of Mt Etna 🌋 just went live on the Wine Terroir YouTube Channel. Please take a look and let me know what you think·

Link in bio and ➡️https://youtu.be/9t1e80FOSAM ·

 Part 1 of a 3 part series on the wines of Mt Etna 🌋 just

2013 Benanti - Nerello Cappuccio Sicilia IGT (84 pts)

- Watch the full video review 📺➡️ https://youtu.be/BLidx6ZMIHs or click the link in bio

 2013 Benanti - Nerello Cappuccio Sicilia IGT (84 pts)

2008 Tenuta di Fessina - Musmeci Riserva Etna Rosso (91 pts)

 watch the full video review 👁📺➡️ https://youtu.be/9t1e80FOSAM or see link in bio 🙏·

 2008 Tenuta di Fessina - Musmeci Riserva Etna Rosso (91

Count Lucio Tasca is a leader in eco-sustainable farming and carbon neutral programs.

Grapes are from young vines, planted in 2004 & 2007 on the north slope of Mount Etna, specifically from contradas Sciaranova, Piano Dario and Rampante.

The terraced vineyards have volcanic sediment soil and are at 600 meters in elevation. [The name ‘Ghiaia Nera’ is in reference to these black soils.] Aged in large Slavonian oak barrels for 24 months.

Bright ruby red in colour, with aromas of smoky earth, strawberry, rose petal and tarry minerality.

Wild strawberry, red currant, pomegranate and white pepper are framed by firm tannins and bright acidity.

Red currant and a wisp of smoke harmonize with the spicy finish. Straightforward, lively and a great value.

Tenuta Tascante ‘Ghiaia Nera’ Etna Rosso DOC 2017

 Count Lucio Tasca is a leader in eco-sustainable farming

Generations of the Calcagno family have been making wine on the northern slope of Mt. Etna in Passopisciaro.

Dedicated to making wines that are a “mirror of their territory”, farming is organic and with minimal intervention.

Vines are 90+ years average age at 650 meters in elevation, in black volcanic soils, from the Arcuria contrada [cru]. Fermented in stainless steel, aged for 12 months in used French oak barriques.

Transparent garnet in colour, with aromas of cherry, pomegranate, strawberry, volcanic earth, sweet pine and cinnamon.

Cherry, pomegranate, tarry earth, black pepper and grilled herbs are flanked by fresh acidity and firm tannins.

Iron minerality and black cherry linger between each silky sip.

Nerello Mascalese with a small amount of Nerello Cappuccio

Calcagno ‘Arcuria’ Etna Rosso DOC 2016

 Finally a beam of light..... Generations of the Calcagno

Vineyards are in the Solicchiata contrada, facing north, 700 meters in elevation on Mount Etna in volcanic soil, planted in 1986.

Spontaneous with maceration on the skins for about 8 days, aged 12 months; 60% in inox, 40% in barrique, unfiltered. 3000 bottles produced.

Garnet in colour, with aromas of cherry compote, roasted chipotle, smoky earth and rose.

Blackberry, sour red cherry, red currant, grilled herbs, smoky minerality, olive, black pepper and fresh acidity glide across a firm tannin backbone.

Dried black cherry, plum, tobacco and dark chocolate linger on the plush finish.

90% Nerello Mascalese, 10% Nerello Cappuccio

Azienda Agricola Siciliano ‘Torrettanera’ Etna Rosso DOC 2015

 Vineyards are in the Solicchiata contrada, facing north

Italian wine importer Marc de Grazia founded Le Vigne di Eli in 2006 when he purchased 5 hectares of vines on the northern slope of Mount Etna.

The 2 tiny vineyard plots are in the renowned contrada [cru] of Feudo di Mezzo and Moganazzi-Voltasciara. The labels are his daughter’s Elena’s [Eli’s] drawings, “a substantial part of the small proceeds go to a childrens’ hospital, the Ospedale Pediatrico Meyer in Florence”. Vines were planted in 1957 and 1967, are at 650-700 meters in elevation and in “volcanic ash with black pumice and volcanic rock, extremely rocky” soil. 650 cases made.

Garnet in colour with aromas of cherry, tarry earth, wildflowers and roasted chipotle pepper.

Cherry, wild strawberry, red currant, black pepper, earth, roasted herbs trace and ashy/chalky minerality are framed by sturdy tannins and fresh acidity. Red fruit and peppery spice linger between each sip.

Well structured, straightforward, with a rustic edge.

98% Nerello Mascalese, 2% Nerello Cappuccio

 Italian wine importer Marc de Grazia founded Le Vigne di

Chiara Vigo and her mother, Rosanna Romeo, passionately craft wines from the estate Chiara’s great grandmother founded 700 meters up the slopes of Mount Etna.

The 100 year + Nerello Mascalese vines are surrounded by olive, pear, chestnut and oak trees. Farming is organic and low intervention.

Fermented with native yeasts, 12 days’ maceration with the skins, pressed and aged in stainless steel for 12 months before bottling.

Transparent garnet in colour with aromas of strawberry, cherry, black pepper and a trace of smoky earth. Silky layers of cherry, raspberry and strawberry with a dash of white pepper are wrapped in smoky minerality and framed by fresh acidity and structural tannins.

Smoky earth and cherry linger on the plush finish.

Mostly Nerello Mascalese with some Nerello Cappuccio

Fattorie Romeo del Castello ‘Allegracore’ Etna Rosso DOC 2016

 Chiara Vigo and her mother, Rosanna Romeo, passionately

For nearly 300 years the Nicolosi family has been making wines on the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily. “We believe that the nature that surrounds us is the most precious heritage we have and working respecting its delicate balance has always been our goal.” - Marco Nicolosi

Barone di Villagrande Bianco Superiore Etna DOC 2016

Light gold in colour, with aromas of tarry earth, lemon and saline minerality.

Campfire smoke wraps around lemon, white flowers, mandarin orange and citrus acidity.

Orange and jasmine compliment a trace of bitter almond on the creamy finish.

Barone di Villagrande Rosso Etna DOC 2016

Transparent garnet in colour, with aromas of black cherry, blackberry jam, plum, subtle tarry earth and peppery spice.

Flavours echo the aromas, with black cherry, red currant, cherry, crushed black pepper and tarry earth framed by silky, firm tannins and fresh acidity. Smoke, spice and dark fruit linger on the velvety finish.

80% Nerello Mascalese, 20% Nerello Capuccio & Nerello Mantellato

 For nearly 300 years the Nicolosi family has been making

Husband and wife team Carmelo Vecchio and Rosa La Guzza farm one hectare of ancient vines high on the slopes of Mount Etna.

The single vineyard with 130 year old Nerello Mascalese vines [along with a few other indigenous varieties] was passed down from Rosa’s family.

Grapes are from the Crasà Contrada at 2100 feet in elevation, with volcanic soils on the northern slope of Mount Etna. Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in stainless steel, aged 9 months in 500-L oak barrels on lees, racked off lees into stainless steel tank 1 month, aged in bottle for 8 months. Unfined, unfiltered. 2016 was their first vintage.

Transparent ruby in colour, with aromas of black cherry, orange peel, forest floor, strawberry, nutmeg, candied violet, peppery spice and licorice.

Cherry, wild strawberry, cranberry, roasted herbs, black pepper and rose petal are framed by wooly tannins and fresh acidity.

Black currant and a vein of smoky earth infuse the velvety finish.

90% Nerello Mascalese, 10% Inzolia, Grecanico, Catarratto

Vigneti Vecchio ‘Crasà Contrada’ Etna Rosso DOC 2016

 Husband and wife team Carmelo Vecchio and Rosa La Guzza

Incredibly aromatic, with intricate layers of ripe cherry, strawberry, raspberry, rose, cinnamon and crushed white peppercorn. All the cherries [red black and a touch of sour] along with wild strawberry, rose petal, soft baking spice and black pepper glide over a core of iron minerality. Fresh acidity and wonderfully wooly tannins [so wooly that my tongue was sticking to the roof of my mouth] fuse into spiced red fruits on the lengthy, dry finish. Well balanced, engaging, stunning, make sure to get one of these spectacular, super scarce bottles before they’re all gone.

85% Nerello Mascalese with “other local varietals from all our old vine vineyards: Nerello Capuccio, Allicante Boushet, Minella and Uva Francesa”

_ 🍷 Frank Cornelissen Contadino Etna Rosso DOP 2016

 Incredibly aromatic, with intricate layers of ripe cherry

Surrounded by olive, fruit and nut trees, organic/biodynamic vineyards are on the steep, volcanic slopes of Mt Etna.

Since 2015 wines have been made in collaboration with Alessandro Viola, the holistic viticulture guru of Sicily.

From a vineyard in the Solicchiata area of Mount Etna, 700 meters in elevation, with vines 30 years old in fine grained, dark volcanic soil. Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, aged in traditional chestnut barrels, unfined.

Dark garnet in colour, with aromas of black cherry, smoky earth, licorice, herbs.

Pomegranate, blackberry, red currant, streak of tarry minerality and baking spices are flanked by firm tannins and fresh acidity.

Blackberry and a wisp of smoky minerality accent the hazelnut finish.

Mostly Nerello Mascalese with Nerello Cappuccio

Siciliano ‘Nonna Aurelia’ Etna Rosso DOC 2017

 Surrounded by olive, fruit and nut trees

The Sofia family has been farming on Mount Etna for many years.

The tiny estate consists of 3 hectares; 2 in Solicchiata on the northern slope of Etna, and 1 hectare in the Pietra Marina contrada.

Brother and sister Carmelo and Valentina head the estate now, with their dad Gioacchino still helping out in the vineyards.

2017 was their first commercially released vintage.

Grapes are from both the Piano dei Daini [20 & 60 year old vines] and Pietra Marina [30 year old vines] contrada, with volcanic and clay soils. “Aged for 14 months in used tonneaux and then in five months in concrete.” Named for their father, only 1500 bottled produced.

Garnet in colour, with aromas of raspberry, strawberry, campfire, candied rose petal, anise and almond biscotti.

Wild berries, rose petal, cherry, black pepper, a vein of tarry earth and fresh acidity glide across silky, firm tannins. Almond biscotti, cherry and peppery spice linger on the plush finish.

Well composed and balanced, with a refined character.

Sofia ‘La Vigne di Gioacchino’ Etna Rosso DOC 2017