Winemaker Notes
From a tiny vineyard 650 meters in elevation, this Nerello Mascalese exhibits the lushness and intensity that have made Contrada Porcaria one of Mt. Etna's most coveted terroirs. It weaves together citrus and mineral aromas over a sensual background of red-fruit before delivering a palate defined by juicy freshness. Ruby red in color with intertwining of citrus and mineral scents against a very sensual background of red fruit on the nose. The palate is intense, fresh and juicy.
Professional Ratings
-
Decanter
A whole percent less alcohol in 2022 compared to 2021, Contrada P (from Contrada Porcaria at 650m above sea level) features a lilting fragrance of wild scrub and petrichor with some austere dark fruits. In the mouth it's vertical and seems to lack some of the fruit you'd expect to fill out the palate and balance the acidity. Some ripe black cherry lurks in the background, tightly coiled, while some fresh herbs and a subtle sweetness weave through the core. Needs a bit of time to harmonise and put on weight in the bottle, but there's plenty of potential.
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.