Etna Bianco Calderara Sottana 2020 (Tenuta delle Terre Nere)

Enjoy it now, or cellar for 10 years or more. No need to decant before serving. This is a volcanic white wine, harvested from a Grand Cru vineyard on the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily. It was crafted from Carricante, a native Sicilian grape, packed with aromas of orchard fruits – pear, quince, and green apple mingle on the nose, with deeper hints of white flowers, balsamic, and spice. Tenuta delle Terre Nere is located on the northern slopes of Mount Etna, one of the few locations in the world that survived phylloxera, thanks to the high silicon content of the volcanic soils. In an extreme and difficult terroir such as the one around Mount Etna, vineyard management is of the utmost importance, and is something that founder Marc de Grazia takes very seriously. The Calderara Sottana white is an impressive wine, with a beautiful golden straw colour in the glass. It is thick in the mouth, with a complex, unctuous character, and overarching flavours of citrus rind, sea salt, quince, ripe pear, and spice. It underwent malolactic fermentation before release, ageing in French oak for 9 months. It will be perfect for pairing with artichokes, creamy pasta, or a variety of seafood.