Dusty dried flowers, wet stones, sage and apricots form a savory bouquet as the 2021 Etna Bianco Pietrarizzo opens in the glass. Silky and round, this flows across the palate with ripe yellow apple and pear accentuated by citrus and spice. Its minerality comes through in the finish, nearly salty and youthfully tense, leaving a tart lemon rind tinge that puckers the cheeks. This beautiful interpretation of Pietrarizzo is already showing very well, yet has the balance for a steady evolution.
93 points, Eric Guido, Vinous (Sep 2023)
Tornatore's Pietrarizzo continues to show the depth and allure of white wines from Etna, with an intensely saline nose that offers citrus zest and slate, lifted with white-flower petals and white peaches. The palate is lemon, white pepper, seashells and gravel, but also more stone fruit and hints of prickly pear and guava. The briny, flinty foundation has an acid rebar that confirms this can take some age and become even more exciting in five to eight years.
93 points, Danielle Callegari, Wine Enthusiast (Dec 2022)
Aromas of yellow grapefruit, preserved lemon and dried rosemary. Full-bodied. Rounded notes of baked citrus, white smoke and herbs on the palate. Lingering, chalk-like mineral finish. Drink now.
93 points, James Suckling (Jul 2022)
A compact, light- to medium-bodied white, this shows a firm spine of acidity while remaining creamy and supple in texture. Opens in the glass, with fruit flavors of creamed apple, mandarin orange peel and kiwi, while accents of elderflower and salted almond gain momentum to sing on the finish. Carricante and Catarratto. Best from 2023 through 2028. 1,583 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.
92 points, Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator (Nov 2022)
Contrada Pietrarizzo is located in Castiglione di Sicilia, on Etna's north slope. This wine is vinified in 50hl barrels and then matured for five months before bottling. A gastronomic white, it has a fragrant perfume of white peach, citrus zest, lavender and summer meadow. Round yet pithy, it has plenty of energy and lovely sapidity, with citrus peel and peach notes.
92 points, James Button, Decanter (May 2023)
Top Quality Store
