Winemaker Notes
Ruby red with subtle garnet reflections. Intriguingly complex. Stands out for the union of small red fruit notes with balsamic and mineral sensations which in turn blend with vanilla and spicy notes. Structured and elegant, with a friendly freshness and a delicate salty tang, the tannin presents itself as mature and well-balanced. A stimulatingly persistent after-taste.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2022 Etna Rosso Lavico is exotic and perfumed, with a vibrant mix of dusty rose, shaved orange and cedar dust complementing wild strawberries. It is soft and round, with medium-bodied textures and tart wild berry fruits enlivened by a core of brisk acidity. The 2022 cleans up beautifully, poised yet juicy, with a hint of sour cranberry punctuating the experience nicely.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2022 Duca di Salaparuta Vajasindi Lavico Etna Rosso is a light garnet color with a delicate brick hue at the rim. It opens with aromas of fragrant garden herbs, tart cherries, and a touch of volcanic minerality. On the palate, it reveals notes of dried spices, forest floor, and subtle earthy undertones that reflect its Etna origins. Elegant and vibrant, this Sicilian red pairs beautifully with grilled pork kebabs seasoned with oregano, rosemary, and a hint of chili, where the wine’s bright acidity and savory depth complement the smoky, herb-accented flavors of the dish. (Tasted: October 28, 2025, San Francisco, CA)
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Decanter
Earthy and clayey aromas introduce some red fruit scents, then a vertical and poised palate of spicy raspberry and strawberry. Light on its feet and with appealing texture and bright acidity, this is a delicious wine to enjoy with or without food. 100% Nerello Mascalese from Etna's north slope aged partially in concrete and partially in French oak for 12 months.
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James Suckling
Aromas of ripe red berries with hints of chocolate, burnt oranges and smoky minerality. Medium-bodied and firm with grainy tannins. I like the mineral backbone and juicy fruit underneath. Flavorful finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
A restrained nose of cigar box, vanilla, dried herbs and old books opens for a palate that's instead very lively, with wild strawberry and wild cherry and warm crushed stones with more herbs poking through, all electrified with acidity.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Made from 100% Narello Mascalese, the 2022 Etna Rosso Lavico is sourced from vineyards at 700 meters above sea level, characterized by floral perfume, cranberry, minty herbs, and sour cherries. Medium-bodied, it’s a highly charming Rosso that boasts refined tannins and an elegant, floating finish with dusty earth. It was aged in a combination of cement tanks, stainless steel, and tonneaux for 14 months, followed by one year in bottle.
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Wine Spectator
This open-knit red is fresh and accessible, with wild strawberry, dried lavender and thyme, minerally tar and stone notes animated by bright, blood orange peel–infused acidity. Herb and spice accents linger on the lightly chewy finish.
Extending across the variable volcanic soils of the slopes of Mt. Etna at some of the highest vineyard altitudes in all of Europe—up to 3,300 feet—Nerello Mascalese is one of Sicily’s most noble red varieties. It makes a beautifully aromatic, firm, cellar-worthy but pale-hued red often comparable to a fine Burgundy or Barbaresco. Somm Secret—Nerello Mascalese takes its name from the black color of its grapes, nerello, and the Mascali plain between Mt. Etna and the coast where it is believed to have originated.
A large, geographically and climatically diverse island, just off the toe of Italy, Sicily has long been recognized for its fortified Marsala wines. But it is also a wonderful source of diverse, high quality red and white wines. Steadily increasing in popularity over the past few decades, Italy’s fourth largest wine-producing region is finally receiving the accolades it deserves and shining in today's global market.
Though most think of the climate here as simply hot and dry, variations on this sun-drenched island range from cool Mediterranean along the coastlines to more extreme in its inland zones. Of particular note are the various microclimates of Europe's largest volcano, Mount Etna, where vineyards grow on drastically steep hillsides and varying aspects to the Ionian Sea. The more noteworthy red and white Sicilian wines that come from the volcanic soils of Mount Etna include Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio (reds) and Carricante (whites). All share a racy streak of minerality and, at their best, bear resemblance to their respective red and white Burgundies.
Nero d’Avola is the most widely planted red variety, and is great either as single varietal bottling or in blends with other indigenous varieties or even with international ones. For example, Nero d'Avola is blended with the lighter and floral, Frappato grape, to create the elegant, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, one of the more traditional and respected Sicilian wines of the island.
Grillo and Inzolia, the grapes of Marsala, are also used to produce aromatic, crisp dry Sicilian white. Pantelleria, a subtropical island belonging to the province of Sicily, specializes in Moscato di Pantelleria, made from the variety locally known as Zibibbo.