Estate: Massimiliano Calabretta is the 4th generation of his family to craft wines on the steep slopes of Mt Etna in Sicily. He follows the centuries old traditions of the volcanic region, protecting and preserving the distinctive land, using only organic methods and minimal intervention. He farms about 7 hectares of old vines, many ungrafted and 80+ years in age in the following contrada: Solicchiata/Montedolce, Passopisciaro/feudo di mezzo, Calderara, Taccione, Battiati/Zocconero. Check out the Calabretta site for more history and vineyard detail here.
Winemaking: Grapes are from vineyards in the Cadlerara contrada at 750 meters in elevation. Vines [90% are ungrafted] are in stony black volcanic soils. Fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel, “Part of the wine is aged in used barriques for six months and part of the wine is aged in steel for six months, then those two parts are blended into 12HL botti for an additional six months”.
Tasting Notes: Transparent garnet in colour, very aromatic; with smoky earth, strawberry, raspberry, black cherry, rose petal, clove, black pepper, pine forest. Black cherry, blackberry, pomegranate, smoky earth and roasted herbs are framed by tangy acidity and firm tannins. Cranberry, black cherry and a trace of nutmeg infuse the smoky finish. Dashing, refined and silky.
100% Nerello Cappuccio
Terre Siciliane IGT
Sicily
Italy
Estate Bottled by Massimiliano Calabretta
12% Alcohol
$40
cara rutherford 
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