B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
"This year in particular showed us how the Etna region ... is taking quality to a new level in the bottle." - James Suckling
James Suckling's newly published report on the 2022 vintage in Etna puts into crystal-clear focus why this is arguably Italy's most dynamic wine region at present. Leading the way is a familiar name to Italian aficionados, Tenuta della Terre Nere. Winemaker Marco de Grazia has been a force in the region's rise to prominence, and his 2022s demonstrate a new level of excellence for this iconic estate, achieving its highest scores ever from Suckling.
Flirting with perfection, the flagship, 99-point 2022 Calderaro Sottano is everything that Etna Rosso should be, conveying its volcanic origins with "purity and clarity [that] really talks to you." Vines averaging 60 years of age provide a remarkable fruit profile that boasts mesmerizing complexity even at this nascent stage in its life. Likewise, the 97-point, single-vineyard duo of Feudo di Mezzo and San Lorenzo each achieve best-ever scores for these cuvées, the former a dense and compact specimen "seemingly born fully formed from the dark and brooding soils" and the latter a poised, elegant charmer with "balance and intensity that goes on for minutes." Finally, a special bottling commemorating the estate's 20th anniversary, the 95-point Bellacolonna Calderaro Sottano is a can't-miss QPR star at best-in-market, sub-$40 pricing, displaying "depth and intensity" and "a linear, vivid finish that goes on and on."
Terre Nere's wines are always highly coveted and sought-after, and this allocation won't last long, so fans of this singular estate or of Etna Rosso in general will want to take quick action, as they're sure to be in high demand once this monumental press lands on collectors' radars. |