Aromas of plum, iron and pumice with some flowers. It’s medium-bodied with powdered, fine tannins. It’s layered and elegant yet so structured. Very long and focused. Wild finish with a lava-like undertone to it all. Just above the contrada of Rapante. Drinkable but better in two or three years.
96 points, James Suckling (Oct 2023)
Named after the training system in Etna, the 2021 Nerello Mascalese is from old vines on the north side of Etna and has a wonderful vibrancy in the glass on opening, with a delicate smoky note on the nose of ripe cherries and rosy perfume. It’s snappy on the palate with a leaner texture, although it has good length and a lovely citrus-tapered finish with a great snappy feel. Drink it over the next 8-10 years.
94 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2024)
Translucent red with a deep ruby core. This has more kick than many Etna wines, a little more grip, still oh so juicy and full of minerality, salinity, pummice stone, redcurrant, mandarin, saline cracker, oyster shell and vivid fresh fruits that are so distinctive to this location. Both super dry and yet super fruity at the same time, with clear acidities that give definition and lift. This is tingling, exciting, juicy, clings on and just subtly demands you to take another sip. One to share. Carolo Ferrini winemaker. As so often with wines from this part of Sicily, it brings home the much-maligned concept of minerality, and is great value. 80 year old vines, 35hl/h yield, just 7,000 bottles from north facing slopes set at 950m, aged in large 500 and 700l oak casks, then moved into concrete.
94 points, Jane Anson (Aug 2023)