We’re thrilled to bring you two captivating new releases from the Terre Nere range – a portfolio the Wine Advocate hails as ‘the gold standard’ of wine from Sicily’s Mount Etna.
2022’s hotter conditions, tempered by August rains, produced highly concentrated wines with great balance that ‘deliver masses of pleasure in a harmonious package’ (Vinous).
The Terre Nere Etna Rosso 2022 is the estate’s entry-level red and offers so much for its price point. ‘Silky-smooth’ and ‘impossibly long’ (Vinous), it’s crafted from low-yielding vines and shows blackcurrant, mulberries, lavender, clove and sage, with a fine texture, minerality, and a lively acidity that continuously entices the palate.
From two parcels of ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines that are more than 140 years old comes the Terre Nere Etna Rosso Prephylloxera 2022. Full-bodied yet weightless, the tannins just melt in your mouth and the flavour profile is instantly mesmerising. This wine is truly in a league of its own. ‘Decant and then sip slowly as this reveals its layered facets,’ says Wine Spectator.
Both wines are based on Nerello Mascalese – ‘one of Italy’s great varieties’ (Nick Jackson MW). The variety is known for its charming aromas of red and purple fruit, florals and earthy, zesty notes along with bold, dry tannins. Marc de Grazia, founder of Terre Nere, has pioneered the production of high-quality wines on Sicily’s Mount Etna since 2002, and his vineyard sites represent some of the best plots on this active volcano.
Don’t miss these highly sought-after wines from one of Sicily’s most iconic producers.
Tasting Notes:
‘Incredibly spicy, the 2022 Etna Rosso bursts from the glass with a wild bouquet of cloves and incense, giving way to dried cherries and sage. This is silky-smooth, with cooling acidity lifting its dense core of ripe red berry fruits as crunchy mineral tones resonate throughout. The 2022 finishes impossibly long and staining yet only gently tannic, leaving a lovely air of lavender and cloves that echoes on. Terre Nere continues to raise the bar with their Etna Rosso; it now has its own barrel-aging facility, which has allowed them to keep the wine in barrel between 14 to 16 months.’ – Eric Guido, Vinous, 92+/100
‘Fragrant and refined, the straight Etna Rosso 2022 from Tenuta delle Terre Nere is fantastic, and even more amazing is that this is the firm’s entry level red. Made with Nerello Mascalese and a tiny percentage of Nerello Cappuccio, it opens with alluring scents of small red berry, wild herb, hay and spice while the smooth, savory palate features crushed raspberry, wild strawberry and baking spice. A saline tang signals the close while lithe tannins and fresh acidity keep it balanced. Drink through 2029. Abv: 14%’ – Kerin O’Keefe, kerinokeefe.com, 92/100
Terre Nere Etna Rosso Prephylloxera Don Peppino 2022
‘A fascinating wine showing flower stems, orange peel and bark with some dried mushrooms. The structure and length are exceptional with a medium to full body and tight, focused tannins. Ends with a persistent, polished and refined finish. Caresses in every sense. Better in five years but if you get the chance to drink now, go for it!’ – JamesSuckling.com, 98/100
‘Made with extremely old, ungrafted vines, the radiant 2022 Le Vigne di Don Peppino Calderara Sottana Prephylloxera is a captivating wine, starting with its compelling aromas of Mediterranean scrub, juniper, dark, exotic spice, eucalyptus and lavendar. Full-bodied and boasting a weightless elegance, the palate delivers ripe raspberry, cassis, crushed mint and French oak-driven sensations of cocoa, coconut and vanilla alongside velvety tannins. Bright acidity and mineral notes give it great energy and tension. Abv: 14.5%’ – Kerin O’Keefe, kerinokeefe.com, 96/100
