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

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)

Checkout the latest Episode of Wine Terroir discussing the wines of Mt Etna 🌋🍷(Part 2) ·

➡️ https://youtu.be/BLidx6ZMIHs or click the link in my bio ·

This episode discusses the grape 🍇 nerello cappuccio as a single varietal·

 Checkout the latest Episode of Wine Terroir discussing the

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

Checkout the latest Episode of Wine Terroir discussing the wines of Mt Etna 🌋🍷(Part 3) ·

➡️ https://youtu.be/z3qNqVzhGik or click the link in my bio ·

This episode discusses the grapes of Etna Bianco and Etna Bianco Superiore. This episode also features one of my favorite white wines from the region

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

2012 Benanti - Pietra Marina Etna Bianco Superiore (93 pts)

Watch the full video review 📺➡️ https://youtu.be/z3qNqVzhGik or click the link in my bio. Also covers some background about Etna Bianco and Etna Bianco Superiore·