“Sopra il Pozzo” Rosso Arcurìa Etna DOC 2021

Alberto Graci | Sicily
Az. Agr. Graci | Contrada Arcurìa Passopisciaro | IT 95012 Castiglione di Sicilia

19252621 · 0,75 l · 158,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping< 24 units available
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An old well at the upper edge of the plot still marks the spot where, within the Contrada Arcurìa, the highest and smallest area begins – the very place that gives the wine its name. This 25-hectare heart of the estate is also the place where Alberto Graci began his return to Mount Etna in 2004. Whilst the rest of the vineyard lies between 600 and 700 metres, this small and very special section climbs up to 700 metres and has always produced the most concentrated grapes on the entire estate. The name derives not only from the well but, above all, from the soil: the so-called "Rifusa", a mixture of layered lava boulders and coarse volcanic sand that retains hardly any water and forces the vines to put down deep roots.

With a planting density of up to 10,000 vines per hectare and a yield of less than 40 double centners per hectare, this barren site naturally produces small quantities of highly concentrated Nerello Mascalese. The wine is fermented as a single varietal in open oak vats, with a long maceration period on the skins, before being aged for 18 to 24 months in large Nevers oak barrels, crafted by the Austrian cooperage Stockinger. Before being sold, the wine is left to rest in the bottle for at least half a year.

Ruby red with orange highlights, accompanied by a complex bouquet of candied citrus peel, red fruits, aniseed and a subtle smoky note. On the palate, it is both fruity and mineral, with lively acidity that immediately reveals the volcanic origins of the Rifusa. A wine that demonstrates that a vineyard's smallest plot can sometimes be its greatest. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2021 Etna Rosso Arcuria Sopra Il Pozzo is spicy on the nose, with notes of blood orange, crushed raspberries, dried roses and white smoke. Elegant, velvety textures envelop ripe red fruits with a hint of balsamic notes and a lively acidity. The 2021 vintage is well-structured and long-lasting, with a finish of tart blackberries." Vinous

"On its black label, the Graci 2021 Etna Rosso Arcurìa Sopra il Pozzo presents itself with a wonderfully sleek appearance and a straightforward yet highly effective portrayal of cassis, dried redcurrants, dried lilac and blood orange, underpinned by notes of gravel, ash and smoke. This is an extremely well-defined wine, characterised by the utmost precision and sharpness. The wine comes across as consistently taut and linear, with the fruit firmly embedded within a framework of volcanic minerality and a fine-grained structure." Wine Advocate

"Aromatic and subtle on the nose with cherry, orange-peel and sandalwood character. Medium-bodied with firm, polished tannins and bright acidity, delivering a linear, driven and energizing finish. Drink or hold." James Suckling