Girolamo Russo

Charming Etna Rosso with a balsamic spicy bouquet and a balanced, yet very characterful, juicy, long taste. Fine fruit, good acidity, firm tannin. Perfectly reflects the terroir. SUPERIORE.DE

"Very accessible with lots of ripe red-cherry and berry character. Hints of cider apple to add freshness. Medium-bodied with a tense fruit and tannin balance that pushes the wine forward. Finishes long and well." James Suckling

Giuseppe Russo farms part of the 12-hectare San Lorenzo vineyard at an altitude of about 750 metres on the slopes of Mount Etna near Randazzo. The lava flows of recent decades have created a porous soil here that is rich in volcanic rock and therefore provides excellent drainage.

Just 1,200 bottles were filled from this first vintage. The vines, which are over 80 years old, produce an extremely low yield, which makes the result all the more complex and multi-layered. Fine saltiness, light stone fruit and a well-dosed extract sweetness flow from the glass. On the palate, a good structure, the acidity and the noticeable minerality support the discreet aromas of white peach and grapefruit. The finish is smoky and has a nice salty note. It is at its best at 12°, and in a few years it will be even better! SUPERIORE.DE

"Carricante is one of Italy's most promising grapes, and I'm so happy to see it in the hands of one of my all-time favorite producers. The other white wine made by Girolamo Russo is a blend of white grapes, and the 2019 Etna Bianco San Lorenzo perfectly complements this portfolio with a more structured, age-worthy and oak-aged alternative. This old-vine expression offers white peach, citrus and melon, but the standout aromas here are those distinctive Etna overtones of ash, smoke and mineral. This is a sharp and beautifully etched white wine. Fruit comes from the lower part of the San Lorenzo vineyard at 740 meters in elevation. Only 1,200 bottles were released, and this is the inaugural vintage of Giuseppe Russo's newest creation." Wine Advocate

Feudo - in radiant ruby garnet - shows lively aromas of raspberry, mint, minerals and flowers that continue on the palate full of energy. This richness, harmony and freshness also accompany the almost endless finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Cask sample. Just mid crimson. Deep, aromatic raspberry fruit with hints of stalks. Sweet, intense raspberry fruit palate wrapped up in powdery tannins. Elegantly built but at the same time lots of concentration." Jancis Robinson

"The 2017 Etna Rosso Feudo launches up from the glass with an intense and rich display of crushed black cherries, balsamic-tinged brown spice and incense. Its textures are silky, even fleshy in feel, with a saturating mix of citrus-tinged, tart red and black fruits, all motivated by vibrant acidity. This boasts tremendous concentration yet carries it well, as a coating of fine tannin struggles to emerge, creating a push and pull of sweet and sour tension." Vinous

"I love the spice and tangy fruit you get in the 2017 Etna Rosso Feudo, which is spicier and more exotic in character compared to past vintages. The effect is lovely, because the wine is well balanced by very crisp, crunchy wild berry fruit. This is one of the most beautiful, delicate and yet fragile expressions you can get from Etna. The wine is brimming with finesse and elegance. I tasted it right after opening the bottle and again about 24 hours later, and its evolution is impressive and multifaceted, adding more complexity and intensity the longer the wine is in the glass." Wine Advocate

Only 1,800 bottles of this vintage were bottled. Extremely complex bouquet of blackberry, currant and sour cherry, with perfectly integrated notes of Mediterranean herbs. Broad and elegant on the palate, supported by a filigree acid wire that makes it fresh and lively. A great wine of excellent structure and with remarkable persistence and depth in taste. SUPERIORE.DE

"Cask sample. Just mid crimson. Deep, brooding, sweet and intense. Ripe, deep fruit palate. Long and perfumed and with plenty of velvety tannins. The high acidity indicates this hasn’t gone through malo yet." Jancis Robinson

Bright ruby red. Refined raspberry and red cherry on the nose, along with quinine and floral notes that develop with further aeration. Fresh aromas of red berries and smoked beef, plus hints of violets and orange zest. Downright exotic on the palate with plenty of lush extract sweetness and a fine tannin and fresh, mineral dry finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"A fresh and clean red with cherry, clove, orange-peel and thyme aromas and flavors. Medium body. Very balanced and vivid." James Suckling

"What a beauty this wine is. The 2017 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo offers a delicate embroidery of wild berry fruit, mountain herbs, blue flowers, wild rose, sweet almond and candied tangerine. You feel some of the heat of the vintage, but in the relatively cool climate of Etna and with the late-ripening Nerello Mascalese grape, this hot vintage has added to the intensity and the complexity of the wine. The hot vintage is an important asset in this case. I love the depth and definition and nervous tension you get here." Wine Advocate