Romeo del Castello Allegracore Etna Rosso 2019

Country: Italy

Region: Sicily

Type: Red Wine

Grape: Nerello Mascalese/Nerello Cappucino

Proprietors Rosanna Romeo and her daughter Chiara Vigo are taking Etna's historic Fattorie Romeo del Castello to a higher level.

The 14 hectare estate is surrounded by a 20 foot wall of petrified lava formed from an eruption in 1981. The stream that forms the wall was headed directly towards the vineyards and house, but miraculously took an abrupt right turn before extinguishing itself into the Alcantara river. Though 15 hectares of land were scorched, fortunately their 100 year old vineyard of Nerello Mascalese was spared. In addition, the wall of lava has modified the vines' exposure to wind, creating a unique micro-climate.

Grapes are farmed organically, hand-harvested, and fermented in stainless steel for Allegracore, without yeasts, enzymes, or temperature control. Sulfur is used sparingly, if at all. This wine comes from the younger part of the vineyard, planted in 2004. An elegant and approachable Etna Rosso, it is fresh and well-balanced, with medium tannins and a smoky quality imparted by the volcanic soil, along with notes of clove and dark fruits - blackberry and sour cherry.