“Contrada Cavaliere” Rosso Etna DOC 2023

Benanti Viticoltori | Sicily
Benanti Viticoltori S.p.a. | Via Garibaldi 361 | IT 95029 Viagrande

19133023 · 0,75 l · 58,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping< 24 units available

The same contrada, a completely different wine: while the Bianco from Cavaliere impresses with its freshness and saltiness, the Rosso reveals the other side of this extraordinary terroir: Burgundian elegance, volcanic depth and a tannin structure of silky precision. At an altitude of 900 metres on the south-western slope of Etna – higher than most Etna vineyards – 50-year-old Nerello Mascalese vines grow in the Guyot system. The skeleton-rich volcanic sands with a sub-acid profile and excellent drainage force the roots deep into the soil. Little rainfall, abundant light and dramatic day-night fluctuations characterise a microclimate that gives the grapes unusual aromatic complexity. Hand-picked in mid-October, destemmed, then fermented on the skins for 21 days at a controlled temperature with our own Etna yeasts – the result of years of research. The wine matures for twelve months in French tonneaux, then in stainless steel, followed by ten months in the bottle.

The colour in the glass is an ethereal ruby red of medium density. The bouquet reveals violets, peony and red rose, underpinned by ash, lapilli and delicate balsamic notes. Dry and medium-bodied on the palate, with a tannin structure of remarkable elegance – firm, but never harsh. Freshness and juiciness carry the wine into a long, dynamic final. A cru wine in the truest sense: a single vineyard, a single producer, an unmistakable character. SUPERIORE.DE

"The high-elevation 2023 Etna Rosso Contrada Cavaliere is remarkably pretty, with a playful mix of wild strawberry, lavender, mint and a subtle whiff of violet pastille. This is lifted and graceful with cool-toned acidity motivating its tart berry fruits as rosy inner florals arch across the palate. Gently grippy and long, the 2023 finishes with a pleasantly bitter cranberry tinge that keeps the mouth watering for more. This is already a pleasure, especially with a slight chill, yet it's also nicely balanced for medium-term cellaring." Vinous