“Alta Mora Guardiola” Rosso Etna DOC 2020

Cusumano | Sicily
Cusumano S.r.l. | SS 113 Km 307 | Contrada San Carlo | IT 90047 Partinico

19084120 · 0,75 l · 50,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping3 units available

Guardiola is a name with weight on Etna. One of the highest and steepest cru sites in Sicily, between 800 and 1,000 metres above sea level, exposed to the harsh sun, cool winds and the contrasts of a volcanic climate, which shapes not only the landscape but also the character of the wine. The vines – predominantly Nerello Mascalese – are deeply rooted in lava rock and volcanic ash, the soil is lean, black and mineralised, a barren terroir that combines strength and elegance rather than playing them off against each other. The vintage brought ideal conditions for a wine with a firm but accessible structure: after a cool spring, the grapes ripened under consistently warm summer sunshine, accompanied by pronounced day-night differences. The grapes were harvest late, by hand, in small crates – a decisive moment for precision and balance. After spontaneous fermentation, the wine was matured in French oak barrels – not to dominate the wine, but to give it contour.

Transparent ruby colour in the glass with a brick-red rim – a typical, elegant colour for Nerello Mascalese from high-altitude vineyards. The nose is initially restrained, then complex aromas unfold: sour cherry, dried flowers, orange zest, graphite and herbs such as thyme and laurel, underpinned by smoky, mineral tones reminiscent of wet stones. Slender, almost dance-like on the palate, with nervy acidity, silky fine tannins and cool flavours – an Etna Rosso with a vertical structure, salty length and crystal-clear characterisation of origin. Alta Mora Guardiola is a highly aesthetic volcanic wine: light in colour, deep in character, uncompromising in origin. Anyone looking for the delicate side of Nerello Mascalese will find it here – in one of the stylistically purest and most exciting Grand Crus from the northern slope of Etna. SUPERIORE.DE

"Delicate, light brick garnet red colour. Very elegant and fine aroma of redcurrants, blackberries, forest floor, leather, with a hint of liquorice behind it. The palate is very precise and clear, juicy, lively and round, with a hint of black pepper on the finish and a long, fine final." Falstaff

"It shows plums and cherries with undertones of tobacco and smoke, is medium-bodied, round and fruity. A hint of wood at the end. Needs two or three years to develop." James Suckling

"Enticing aromas of anise, cinnamon, graphite and leather lace flavors of fig cake, baked cherry and Earl Grey in this supple red, with fine-grained tannins. Shows lovely integration and overall balance, with its ripe fruit juiciness carrying the flavor profile through the lasting finish." Wine Spectator

"The top red wine from Alta Mora is the Etna Rosso Guardiola 2020, a limited edition of 3,000 bottles made from the fruit of exceptionally old vines (up to 150 years old) planted on steep stone terraces at an altitude of 900 metres. Guardiola is one of the best sites on the volcano and always displays a particularly sophisticated mineral character. This wine has complexity and depth, but ultimately remains true to the accessible and medium-bodied identity of the vintage." Wine Advocate

"From vines up to 150 years old grown in the Contrada Guardiola in Passopisciaro, this is a fragrant Nerello Mascalese full of potpourri and violets. In the mouth it is broad and savoury, with notes of flint, zesty acidity and a veil of grippy tannins that relax into beautiful black cherry, blue fruit and Parma violets. It is ferrous, earthy and savoury and finishes with a delightful hint of blood orange. A complex and really appealing red wine." Decanter