Whilst Sicilian reds are famous, Tenuta delle Terre Nere and its new generation of white and rosé wines have also become important players on the slopes of Europe’s highest active volcano. The 2023s are ‘some of the most exotic, finessed and elegant wines Terre Nere has ever produced,’ says Eric Guido.
Terre Nere’s Etna Bianco 2023 is the perfect white wine for us. A blend of local white varieties – Carricante, Catarratto, Grecanico, Minnella and Inzolia – this beauty is fragrant, fine and mineral in texture, but not short on body. Showing notes of fennel, apple and lemon zest with a driven, salty finish, it sings with seafood.
Their Etna Rosato, made from 100% Nerello Mascalese, is legendary and one of our favourite rosés in the world. The 2023 draws you in with white flowers, white peach, tangerine, pink peppercorns, spice and wild strawberries on the nose, followed by a velvety palate and a fresh, saline finish. It’s moreish and refreshing at the same time.
Due to tough conditions, only 4,000 bottles were produced (instead of the normal 40,000), so don’t miss out on the last few bottles!
What the critics say:
‘Leave it to Marco de Grazia of Tenuta delle Terre Nere to take what many consider a difficult, lower-quality vintage and turn out a lineup of wines that exceeded expectations—and left this taster in awe.’ – Eric Guido, Vinous on the 2023s
‘We are all witness to the rebirth of one of the oldest wine regions in the world.’ – Benjamin Spencer, The New Wines of Mount Etna
‘Even though Sicily’s reds get most of the spotlight, its new generation of dry, radiant whites should be on every wine lover’s radar.’ – Kerin O’Keefe, Wine Enthusiast
‘The whites of Sicily, particularly those grown in the foothills of Mount Etna, have been earning attention as among the most distinctive and unusual white wines in Italy, if not the world.’ – Eric Asimov, New York Times
‘For the first time, I realised that I had never tasted Carricante properly. I had not understood that this salt-stung, volcano-fed, rock-rooted, sun- and rain-lashed wine growing up with its face to sea winds was a wine that, at its best, needed age. It’s a wine that can show TDN like old Riesling, and develop dried citrus and toast like old Sémillon.’– JancisRobinson.com
Tasting Notes:
‘Honeyed florals, candied ginger, hints of fennel and crushed green apples form a spicy and inviting bouquet as the 2023 Etna Bianco opens in the glass. This plays depths of ripe orchard fruit against a core of salty minerals and savory spices as a wave of stimulating acidity completely resets the palate. The 2023 tapers off perfumed and long, leaving a pleasantly sour tinge of citrus that puckers the cheeks.’ – Eric Guido, Vinous, 92/100
‘This vintage was bottled just a week before the tasting. 2023 was a very hot vintage, and like in the rest of Italy, Etna also had problems with downy mildew so Terre Nere’s rosé production is minimal: only 4,000 bottles instead of 40,000 in an average year. ‘The rosé from 2023 will only be sold in Italy’, says Marco de Grazia. The harvest took place in late September and the grapes were very concentrated. They were destemmed, and the must stayed in contact with the skins during the night. Fermentation took place in steel tanks. This is a warm and round wine with aromas of yellow peach, tangerine, and pink peppercorn. It has a round mouthfeel without feeling heavy thanks to a backbone of fresh acidity, and the finish is salty and profound.’ – Åsa Johansson, Decanter, 93/100
