Passopisciaro

Passorosso is a single-varietal Nerello Mascalese that shows fine garnet-red reflections in its bright ruby red. Proud and fascinating, it presents an intense bouquet of red berries, coffee and olives. Its engaging flavour convinces with clear, well-defined fruit and pronounced minerality. Graceful and special. SUPERIORE.DE

"A juicy aroma of black cherry and plum, mint and a little graphite accompany the fruit. It also shows juice and power on the palate, dark cherries are structured by a grippy tannin. The acidity gives the wine a lot of freshness. The grapes for the wine come from 80 to 120 year old vines." Vinum

"The 2020 Passorosso is spicy, showing dried flowers, hints of cardamom and white pepper before its dusty cherry fruit comes to the fore. Soft and enveloping, this impresses with a pure mix of red fruits and inner rose tones guided by cooling acidity. It finishes lightly structured and with a bitter twang of sour berry concentration. While the Passorosso is typically a more forward expression, the 2020 could use another year of cellaring before showing its best. That said, it’s a very pretty wine that is packed full of potential." Vinous

Passorosso is a single-varietal Nerello Mascalese that shows fine garnet-red reflections in its bright ruby red. Proud and fascinating, it presents an intense bouquet of red berries, coffee and olives. Its engaging taste convinces with clear, well-defined fruit and pronounced minerality. Graceful and special. SUPERIORE.DE

"A rather pretty nose of rose petal, red cherry and sliced strawberry. Medium-bodied with gentle, guiding tannins. Linear and very clear on the palate. Bright and charming." James Suckling

Passopisciaro's Contrada C is an exquisite red with a dark sensual fruit bouquet. Stylistically like a great Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo, of remarkable intensity on the palate until the lingering final. A muscular and weightless wine at the same time. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright shining cherry red with ruby. Small strawberries, redcurrants, juniper berries, slightly loamy, leather spice and black tea on the nose. Builds up lively, with nice pressure, finely woven tannin, very finesse, nevertheless gripping in the back, tactile mineral notes, finishes on a fine salty character." Falstaff

"Just mid ruby. pepnose of red fruit, cherry, rhubarb and raspberry with a spicy undertow and a hint of oak and tobacco leaf. Gorgeous depth and concentration on the palate and with a layer of fine-grained tannins. Real intensity on the finish. Cool-climate spirit in spite of its 15% alcohol." Jancis Robinson

"The 2019 Contrada Chiappemacine (C) wafts up with a dark blend of black cherries and shaved cedar in an air of ashen smoke. It’s round and soothingly textural, with cooling acidity that enlivens the mineral-tinged red berries and hints of brown spice within. This finishes with a mentholated freshness, while leaving silty tannins to linger, which also keeps the mouth watering for more. It will only require minimal cellaring to show its best. The Chiappemacine cru lies at around 550 meters in elevation with a thin layer of volcanic soils over a bed of limestone." Vinous

"Fragrant spice and cedar notes waft from the glass of this graceful red, accenting the finely-knit range of pureed raspberry, rose and licorice flavors, which are aligned to lightly chalky tannins that firm the minerally finish." Wine Spectator

"Weightless, concentrated and delicious, this has aromas of camphor, wild berries, rose and wet stone. The full-bodied palate delivers crushed raspberry, wild strawberry, cinnamon and star anise before an almost salty finish. Lithe tannins provide finesse and polished support." Wine Enthusiast

Ruby garnet colour, fine violet note and many spices in the bouquet. Dense and compact with taut tannin and sweet fruit melt. Given time, this wine (age of the vines: 100 years, production: 4,000 bottles) is at the beginning of a long, promising development. SUPERIORE.DE

"Just mid ruby and youthful. Captivating, stony, minerally raspberry nose. Brooding depth, sweetly perfumed. Racy cherry and raspberry with coating tannins sticking to the fruit. Still tight, a little embryonic and super-elegant." Jancis Robinson

"A silky, harmonious red, with a pleasing juiciness to the flavors of steeped cherry and strawberry fruit, fresh, loamy earth and accents of Mandarin orange peel and milled pepper. Hints of tar and herb emerge on the crisp finish." Wine Spectator

"The 2019 Contrada Guardiola (G) lifts from the glass in classic form: dark, smoky, ashy even, with a burst of spiced black cherries that evolves with coaxing. This is lifted in feel, impressing with a core of salty minerality and bright acids before releasing its ripe red fruits and inner rose tones. The 2019 maintains amazing energy while tapering off structured and savory, with hints of sage and fresh plum that linger. The Guardiola is a selection of old vines from within the vineyard, growing between 800 to 1,000 meters in elevation." Vinous

"Showing its Etna pedigree and loaded with finesse, this gorgeous red has inviting aromas of camphor, crushed red berries, blue flowers and Mediterranean brush. Full-bodied but boasting an almost weightless elegance, the enveloping, delicious palate delivers raspberry compote, ripe strawberry and baking spice alongside a flinty mineral note that lends depth. Enveloping, polished tannins provide lithe support while fresh acidity keeps it balanced. It's already showing beautifully so there's no need to wait." Wine Enthusiast

Etna is one of Italy's most fascinating wine regions and Andrea Franchetti is probably the most fanatical producer in this area. Added to this are eighty-year-old, indigenous Nerello Mascalese vines. The single vineyard Contrada Porcaria has a thoroughly masculine personality. Darkly scented with ripe fruit and menthol, the palate is predominantly spice and mineral with many other facets. The course and the final are rich, dense and very convincing. SUPERIORE.DE

"Lustrous and just mid ruby. Deeper nose than the Contrada C with perfumed concentrated raspberry and hints of crushed black pepper and stones. Racy acidity cleaves through savoury-sweet raspberry fruit. Very firm but polished tannic spine ending in a chewy raspberry fruit finish. Firm structure." Jancis Robinson

"A dusty and inviting mix of dried roses and cherries is contrasted by hints of ash and smoke as the 2019 Contrada Porcaria (P) blossoms in the glass. This is undeniably elegant in feel, with velvety textures that coast across its medium-bodied frame, delivering mineral-tinged red berries and sweet herbal tones that arch across the palate. It’s lightly structured with grippy tannins that tug at the cheeks, yet the mouth is left watering for more, as hints of pomegranate and plum slowly fade. The Porcaria vineyard stands at 650 meters, with soils that are described by Passopisciaro as, “A frail sheet of lava that splinters under one’s feet.” Give this beauty another year of cellaring to come fully into focus." Vinous

"Aromas of Mediterranean scrub, eucalyptus, smoky flint and wild berries mingle with dark spice. On the full-bodied palate, bright acidity lifts raspberry compote, licorice, slate and blood orange. Taut, polished tannins provide support while the warmth of alcohol lingers on the close." Wine Enthusiast

"A tightly-meshed red, plushly textured despite its dense tannic frame thanks to a swath of macerated black raspberry and cherry fruit, wild sage, singed orange peel and red licorice aromas and flavors. There's good tension, focus and freshness here, but the fruit and spice range, as well as an underpinning of smoky mineral, will be on full display with additional time in the bottle." Wine Spectator

The individual parcels (micro-locations) on Etna are called Contrade and the Contrada Passochianche (PC) is the new Chardonnay Cru from the magic hand of Andrea Franchetti. As early as 2000, he had planted Chardonnay here at an altitude of about 900 metres with a high vine density. The 2018 vintage marked the debut of a wine that impressively reflects the sum of Franchetti's many years of experience on Etna. Like all Contrade wines, it has its very own personality and demonstrates very clearly how a grape variety gains its very own form of expression in different locations. Just 2,660 bottles of this fresh, characterful and salty-mineral Chardonnay were filled. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright clear straw yellow. Notes of pineapple, lemon blossom and bergamot penetrate the nose, along with flint and juicy yellow apple. Hits the palate with tension, building in layers, tactile mineral, dynamically dense with good pressure, seeming yellow fruit that lingers on the finish." Falstaff

"Intense straw yellow. Like the Passobianco but amplified and fortified with elegant oak notes. Peach and orange on the palate with the oak supporting the fruit. Concentrated and, at the same time, displaying a certain coolness." Jancis Robinson

"The 2019 Bianco Contrada Passochianche (PC) opens slowly in the glass, with dusty florals and hints of smoke giving way to a vivid note of fresh slices of Granny Smith apple. It’s savory on the palate with textures like pure silk and a cool-toned freshness and salty mineral core. This leaves nuances of raw almond and hints of green melon while tapering off lightly structured. The 2019 PC is an understated beauty." Vinous

Contrada Rampante grows on the highest vineyard of Passopisciaro. The soils have a higher sand content and the harvest takes place later here. On the nose, dark red cherries, flowers, mint and liquorice. Rampante is an elegant, energetic red with clear fruit and silky tannins. SUPERIORE.DE

"Mid ruby. Brooding and hinting at ripe red fruit with iodine notes, oatmeal and still embryonic. Richly tannic racy raspberry fruit. Very long, juicy and energetic, tannic and perfumed. Great long-lasting tannic bite on the finish." Jancis Robinson

"The 2019 Contrada Rampante (R) wafts up with a dramatic yet incredibly pretty display of dried flowers, exotic spices, smoke and sour cherries. This is softly textured and finessed, with bright acidity further enlivening the tart red berries found within. It leaves a staining of minerality, along with fine tannins that emerge only at the very end, as hints of sour citrus and inner rose tones fade. The Rampante vineyard is the highest-altitude site where Passopisciaro farms Nerello Mascalese, at 1,000 meters." Vinous

"Hints of eucalyptus and licorice on the nose carry through on the palate of this fresh red, which is wrapped with plumped cherry and ripe currant fruit flavors, a minerally underpinning and crisp frame of chalky tannins. Enjoyable now, but should show nicely with even short-term aging." Wine Spectator

"Smoky flint, dark spice, blue flower and forest berry aromas come to the forefront along with a whiff of hay. Racy and loaded with mineral tension, the elegant, structured palate delivers crushed raspberry, pomegranate, licorice and ground clove before an almost salty mineral finish. Taut, refined tannins and fresh acidity provide the framework." Wine Enthusiast

Ruby garnet colour, fine violet note and many spices in the bouquet. Dense and compact with taut tannin and sweet fruit melt. Given time, this wine is at the beginning of a long, promising development. SUPERIORE.DE

"Just mid ruby. Iron and raspberry. A sense of depth and richness on the nose but still a little subdued. A hint of oak. Mouth-watering raspberry fruit palate but not tart. A firm layer of fine-grained tannin. Very elegant, yet gripping and layered." Jancis Robinson

"A round, medium-bodied red, offering an enticing note of wild strawberry layered upon supple tannins and flavors and aromas of dried rosemary, sweet smoke and sandalwood. Bright and lingering, with a well-spiced finish." Wine Spectator

"Nosing the 2019 Contrada Sciaranuova (S) is a total pleasure. Masses of rose petals, sour cherries, tangerine, cedar and smoke form its wonderfully perfumed bouquet. This is seamlessly silky without any hard edges, displaying a harmonious mix of ripe red fruits and sweet inner spice. It finishes structured, remarkably long, but also fresh, leaving the palate with a youthful concentration, but also residual acids that maintain a juicy persona. The 2019 is a stunning rendition of Sciaranuova." Vinous

"Red berry, rose, wild herb, dark spice and slate aromas shape the enticing nose on this fragrant, gorgeous red. Full-bodied and elegantly structured, the savory palate has an ethereal weightlessness, featuring ripe Marasca cherry, pomegranate, blood orange and white pepper before a flinty mineral finish. It already has tension and great depth, but hold a few more years for more complexity." Wine Enthusiast

Etna is one of Italy's most fascinating wine regions and Andrea Franchetti is probably the most fanatical producer in this area. Added to this are eighty-year-old indigenous Nerello Mascalese vines. The single vineyard Contrada Porcaria has a thoroughly masculine personality. Darkly scented with ripe fruit and menthol, the palate is predominantly spice and mineral with many other facets. The course and the final are rich, dense and very convincing. SUPERIORE.DE

"A juicy, lush attack on the nose of Amarena cherry, plums and pepper. This wine radiates an incredible energy and seems precisely structured. Sour cherry on the palate, with a fine spice of mace. Inviting acidity from the still young fruit and a great length. The radiance of the volcano captured in a brilliant wine." Vinum

"The 2020 Contrada Porcaria (P) is dark and inward, as crushed rocks and camphor blow off to reveal spiced cherries and hints of shaved cedar. It’s silky and robust in feel, with bright acidity that adds thrust to its sour red berry fruits, as the 2020 displays an abundance of energy. Fine tannins saturate through the finale under an air inner florals, as a flourish of saline-minerality slowly fades." Vinous

Ruby garnet colour, fine violet note and many spices in the bouquet. Dense and compact with taut tannin and sweet fruit melt. Given time, this already very elegant red (age of the vines: 100 years, production: 4,000 bottles) is at the beginning of a long, promising development. SUPERIORE.DE

"Juniper and sour cherry, earth and salt on the nose. Hearty on the palate with hints of venison, black cherry, chocolate and nutmeg. Very concentrated, broad-shouldered and at the same time punchy due to a present acidity. The fruit seems very ripe. A wine with high demands, but also a pleasure to drink." Vinum

"Elegant ruby red with a sparkling core and brightening rim. In the nose elegant and inviting of ripe cherries, mint, cold smoke, then again ripe raspberries, pomegranate and blood orange, seductive. Polished and compact on the palate, opening slowly and in many layers, extremely finessed and with a salty, long finish." Falstaff

"The 2020 Contrada Guardiola (G) is a showstopper; surprisingly floral, with masses of rose and violet tones giving way to blackberries and a dusting of spice. This flows across the palate with ease, silky at first with a salty core and tart red berries that drench the senses; yet throughout, it remains perfumed and finessed. Spiced citrus and herbal tones linger through the long finale, along with a coating of fine tannins that promise a long and even development. Franky stated, this is one of the prettiest renditions of Guardiola fruit that I’ve ever experienced." Vinous

Passopisciaro's Contrada C is an exquisite red with a dark sensual fruit bouquet. Stylistically like a great Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo, of remarkable intensity on the palate until the lingering final. A muscular and weightless wine at the same time. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, sparkling ruby red. Currently somewhat restrained on the nose, showing light hints of geranium and cold smoke, distant hints of dried tomatoes. Extremely polished on the palate entry, with creamy tannin, showing noble candied raspberry fruit, grippy salty final." Falstaff

"The 2020 Contrada Chiappemacine (C) is pungently floral, lifting from the glass with a display of sour cherries, dried strawberries and a cedar spice box of flowery perfumes. Its silky textures wash across the palate with ease, ushering in sweet herbal-tinged red fruits, as vibrant acidity maintains a juicy feel. The 2020 finishes structured yet long, leaving hints of licorice and inner violet tones. A year or two of cellaring is recommended, as there is an underlying power here that is not yet fully realized." Vinous

Contrada Rampante grows on the highest vineyard of Passopisciaro. The soils have a higher sand content and the harvest takes place later here. On the nose, dark red cherries, flowers, mint and liquorice. Rampante is an elegant, energetic and dynamic red with clear fruit and silky tannins. SUPERIORE.DE

"This brilliance in the glass is attractively typical of Etna wines. The bouquet is reminiscent of raspberries and smoke, red currant and salt. On the palate, a good, so subtle tension: first it shows a gentle attack, then it grabs hold and stays, not lush, but attractively multilayered. The acidity keeps the wine on its toes, the tannins ensure a long finish. 18 months of maturation in large oak barrels make it silky, cool and mineral, as one would ideally expect from an Etna Rosso. The 100+ year old Nerello vines from Contrada Rampante, perhaps the most famous site on Etna, located in Passopisciaro to the north at over 700-1000 metres, adds its own unique style to the house." Vinum

"Bright ruby red with a gently brightening rim. Noble and inviting nose, of candied citrus zest, rose hips, wild strawberries, plus a hint of dried red flowers, reverberating delicately of wet stone. On the palate with beautiful juiciness and polished red berry fruit, spreads salty over the tongue, sparse elegance, currently still quite youthful tannin in the finish." Falstaff

Etna is one of Italy's most fascinating wine regions and Andrea Franchetti is probably the most fanatical producer of this region. In addition there are eighty year old native Nerello Mascalese vines. The Contrada Porcaria site has a thoroughly male personality. Dark, fragrant with ripe fruit and menthol, spices and minerals on the palate with many other facets. The course and the finale are rich, dense and very convincing. SUPERIORE.DE

"Almost a little opulent yet leesy on the nose. Pure, concentrated and succulent raspberry fruit with coating tannins. Long and focused. The most hedonistic of all the Passopisciaro 2015s, at least at this stage." Jancis Robinson

"Aromas of wild berry, Mediterranean brush, menthol and dark spice develop in the glass. Elegant and spicy, the structured, focused palate evokes black cherry, crushed strawberry, star anise and clove while a mineral note lingers on the finish. It's well balanced, with bright acidity and firm, polished tannins." Wine Enthusiast

"A well-knit version, with chewy tannins and juicy acidity meshed with generous black cherry and blackberry fruit and dried thyme, violet, and tarry mineral notes on the creamy finish." Wine Spectator

Ruby garnet colour, fine violet and rose notes and many spices in the bouquet. Dense and compact with taut tannin and sweet fruit melt. Given time, this captivating red is at the beginning of a long, promising development. SUPERIORE.DE

"A powerful sour cherry and the nose, with hints of roasted almonds. On the palate, it shows an opulent, ripe red fruit, reminiscent of morello cherries and redcurrant jam. It also has smoky and savoury notes, reminiscent of fennel salami. On the palate, there is also a salty minerality typical of the volcano." Vinum

"The 2020 Contrada Sciaranuova (S) is deeply alluring, almost sultry, with an herbal tinged to its bright cherry-berry bouquet, along with hints of animal muskiness that keep me at the edge of the glass. The earth-inspired mix continues on the palate, yet blends with exotic inner florals, citrus-tinged red fruits and energizing acidity. There’s simply so much going on here, and yet the balance is perfect, as the 2020 tapers off lightly structured with a burst of inner sweetness and hints of salted licorice that linger. Wow. While this will age evenly, it’s also worth checking in on early to enjoy its primary nature. The vines of Sciara Nuova grow at 850 meters in soils of volcanic gravel." Vinous

Passorosso is a single-varietal Nerello Mascalese that shows fine garnet-red reflections in its bright ruby red. Proud and fascinating, it presents an intense bouquet of red berries, coffee and olives. Its engaging taste convinces with clear, well-defined fruit and pronounced minerality. Graceful and special. SUPERIORE.DE

"A juicy aroma of black cherry and plum, mint and a little graphite accompany the fruit. It also shows juice and power on the palate, dark cherries are structured by a grippy tannin. The acidity gives the wine a lot of freshness. The grapes for the wine come from 80 to 120 year old vines." Vinum

"The 2020 Passorosso is spicy, showing dried flowers, hints of cardamom and white pepper before its dusty cherry fruit comes to the fore. Soft and enveloping, this impresses with a pure mix of red fruits and inner rose tones guided by cooling acidity. It finishes lightly structured and with a bitter twang of sour berry concentration. While the Passorosso is typically a more forward expression, the 2020 could use another year of cellaring before showing its best. That said, it’s a very pretty wine that is packed full of potential." Vinous

Franchetti Rosso is Passopisciaro's flagship wine and a stunningly perfect wine. The grapes come from 1000-metre-high northern Etna vineyard sites, where the soils are ash and pumice. Franchetti is a ripe, exotic wine that envelops the palate with dark fruit. Refined tannins support the fruit, while an intense inner sweetness adds elegance and finesse. A thoroughly outstanding drop. SUPERIORE.DE

"The wine is saturated and thick, boasting a dark, rich appearance and carrying a 14.5% alcohol content. It shows medium-rich concentration with aromas of blackberry, black plum, spice and tar. There is some fruit softness here, but not very much, as the wine is more etched and sharp in personality. There are end notes of pencil shaving and crushed granite stone. It should be interesting to see how it fleshes out with more time in the bottle." Wine Advocate

"The 2018 Franchetti coats the glass in an inky purple color while putting on a dramatic display of rich blackberry and plum sauce, lavender, sage, mocha and hints of smoke. Its velvety textures wash shades of blue and black fruit across the palate, which is seamless and elegant in feel, supported by underpinnings of salty minerals and savory herbs. There's so much going on here, and much more to come through proper cellaring, as this winds down incredibly long and gently tannic, signing off with a resonating note of citrus-tinged currants and spice. The 2018 is a more refined and lifted expression of Franchetti that should enjoy a long and wide drinking window." Vinous

Franchetti Rosso is Passopisciaro's flagship wine and a stunningly perfect wine. The grapes come from 1000-metre-high northern Etna vineyard sites, where the soils are ash and pumice. Franchetti is a ripe, exotic wine that envelops the palate with dark fruit. Refined tannins support the fruit, while an intense inner sweetness adds elegance and finesse. A thoroughly outstanding drop. SUPERIORE.DE

"Expressive, of cherry syrup, ripe blackberries, graphite, a hint of grape juice, elegant spice in the finish. With great substance and concentration, without being full-bodied, clear and precise fruit, stretches wide, savoury, tightly meshed, long." Falstaff

"The 2019 Franchetti is like a dark stallion, muscled and sleek. It opens slowly in the glass, inward yet viral, with dusty dried flowers giving way to nuances of plum, brown spice, cardamom, savory herbs and hints of cocoa. The textures here are like crushed velvet, prominent, almost weighty, yet with a balance of brisk acidity and tart fruits that add contrast. The 2019 leaves a subtle staining of harmonious tannins, along with dark inner florals and hints of black currant that linger incredibly long. The vines for the Franchetti were planted in 2000 within the Guardiola cru." Vinous

Franchetti Rosso is Passopisciaro's flagship wine and a stunningly perfect wine. The grapes come from 1000-metre-high northern Etna vineyard sites, where the soils are ash and pumice. Franchetti is a ripe, exotic wine that envelops the palate with dark fruit. Refined tannins support the fruit, while an intense inner sweetness adds elegance and finesse. A thoroughly outstanding drop. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Franchetti is a unique wine that perfectly interprets the high volcanic soils. Power, structure and then such a straightforward concentration of aromas: deep scent of black cherries, plums, orange zest and mint. Then comes a distinct minerality. Dark chocolate and blueberry show on the palate, spiced with fresh tarragon. A great wine to know from Etna." Vinum

"Dark ruby red with a delicately lightening rim. In the nose of ripe heart cherries, paired with cold smoke, mulberries as well as freshly roasted coffee and a hint of Ras-el-Hanout. Extremely polished and compact on the palate, opens to juicy tannin, punchy and with plenty of finesse, keeps coming back, dense, long and balanced." Falstaff

"The 2020 Franchetti is gorgeous, bursting from the glass, spicy and intense, flaunting its Cesanese aromatics with a mix of blackberries, lavender, sage, white pepper and smoke that make this impossible to ignore. This is deeply textural, almost creamy in feel yet spry, with medium-bodied textures and a salty core of minerality that offsets its masses of ripe dark fruits and sweet herbal tones. The length here is astounding, as well as the harmony found within, finishing structured yet sapid, leaving violet florals and nuances of plum sauce to linger on and on and on. This is already so appealing, elegance personified, yet the best is surely yet to come." Vinous

Passorosso is a single-varietal Nerello Mascalese that shows fine garnet-red reflections in its bright ruby red. Proud and fascinating, it presents an intense bouquet of red berries, coffee and olives. Its engaging flavour convinces with clear, well-defined fruit and pronounced minerality. Graceful and special. SUPERIORE.DE

"A juicy aroma of black cherry and plum, mint and a little graphite accompany the fruit. It also shows juice and power on the palate, dark cherries are structured by a grippy tannin. The acidity gives the wine a lot of freshness. The grapes for the wine come from 80 to 120 year old vines." Vinum

"The 2020 Passorosso is spicy, showing dried flowers, hints of cardamom and white pepper before its dusty cherry fruit comes to the fore. Soft and enveloping, this impresses with a pure mix of red fruits and inner rose tones guided by cooling acidity. It finishes lightly structured and with a bitter twang of sour berry concentration. While the Passorosso is typically a more forward expression, the 2020 could use another year of cellaring before showing its best. That said, it’s a very pretty wine that is packed full of potential." Vinous

Franchetti Rosso is Passopisciaro's flagship wine and a stunningly perfect wine. The grapes come from 1000-metre-high northern Etna vineyard sites, where the soils are ash and pumice. Franchetti is a ripe, exotic wine that envelops the palate with dark fruit. Refined tannins support the fruit, while an intense inner sweetness adds elegance and finesse. A thoroughly outstanding drop. SUPERIORE.DE

"Expressive, of cherry syrup, ripe blackberries, graphite, a hint of grape juice, elegant spice in the finish. With great substance and concentration, without being full-bodied, clear and precise fruit, stretches wide, savoury, tightly meshed, long." Falstaff

"The 2019 Franchetti is like a dark stallion, muscled and sleek. It opens slowly in the glass, inward yet viral, with dusty dried flowers giving way to nuances of plum, brown spice, cardamom, savory herbs and hints of cocoa. The textures here are like crushed velvet, prominent, almost weighty, yet with a balance of brisk acidity and tart fruits that add contrast. The 2019 leaves a subtle staining of harmonious tannins, along with dark inner florals and hints of black currant that linger incredibly long. The vines for the Franchetti were planted in 2000 within the Guardiola cru." Vinous

Franchetti Rosso is Passopisciaro's flagship wine and a stunningly perfect wine. The grapes come from 1000-metre-high northern Etna vineyard sites, where the soils are ash and pumice. Franchetti is a ripe, exotic wine that envelops the palate with dark fruit. Refined tannins support the fruit, while an intense inner sweetness adds elegance and finesse. A thoroughly outstanding drop. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Franchetti is a unique wine that perfectly interprets the high volcanic soils. Power, structure and then such a straightforward concentration of aromas: deep scent of black cherries, plums, orange zest and mint. Then comes a distinct minerality. Dark chocolate and blueberry show on the palate, spiced with fresh tarragon. A great wine to know from Etna." Vinum

"Dark ruby red with a delicately lightening rim. In the nose of ripe heart cherries, paired with cold smoke, mulberries as well as freshly roasted coffee and a hint of Ras-el-Hanout. Extremely polished and compact on the palate, opens to juicy tannin, punchy and with plenty of finesse, keeps coming back, dense, long and balanced." Falstaff

"The 2020 Franchetti is gorgeous, bursting from the glass, spicy and intense, flaunting its Cesanese aromatics with a mix of blackberries, lavender, sage, white pepper and smoke that make this impossible to ignore. This is deeply textural, almost creamy in feel yet spry, with medium-bodied textures and a salty core of minerality that offsets its masses of ripe dark fruits and sweet herbal tones. The length here is astounding, as well as the harmony found within, finishing structured yet sapid, leaving violet florals and nuances of plum sauce to linger on and on and on. This is already so appealing, elegance personified, yet the best is surely yet to come." Vinous

Franchetti Rosso is Passopisciaro's flagship wine and a stunningly perfect wine. The grapes come from 1000-metre-high northern Etna vineyard sites, where the soils are ash and pumice. Franchetti is a ripe, exotic wine that envelops the palate with dark fruit. Refined tannins support the fruit, while an intense inner sweetness adds elegance and finesse. A thoroughly outstanding drop. SUPERIORE.DE

"Expressive, of cherry syrup, ripe blackberries, graphite, a hint of grape juice, elegant spice in the finish. With great substance and concentration, without being full-bodied, clear and precise fruit, stretches wide, savoury, tightly meshed, long." Falstaff

"The 2019 Franchetti is like a dark stallion, muscled and sleek. It opens slowly in the glass, inward yet viral, with dusty dried flowers giving way to nuances of plum, brown spice, cardamom, savory herbs and hints of cocoa. The textures here are like crushed velvet, prominent, almost weighty, yet with a balance of brisk acidity and tart fruits that add contrast. The 2019 leaves a subtle staining of harmonious tannins, along with dark inner florals and hints of black currant that linger incredibly long. The vines for the Franchetti were planted in 2000 within the Guardiola cru." Vinous

Franchetti Rosso is Passopisciaro's flagship wine and a stunningly perfect wine. The grapes come from 1000-metre-high northern Etna vineyard sites, where the soils are ash and pumice. Franchetti is a ripe, exotic wine that envelops the palate with dark fruit. Refined tannins support the fruit, while an intense inner sweetness adds elegance and finesse. A thoroughly outstanding drop. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Franchetti is a unique wine that perfectly interprets the high volcanic soils. Power, structure and then such a straightforward concentration of aromas: deep scent of black cherries, plums, orange zest and mint. Then comes a distinct minerality. Dark chocolate and blueberry show on the palate, spiced with fresh tarragon. A great wine to know from Etna." Vinum

"Dark ruby red with a gently lightening rim. In the nose of ripe heart cherries, paired with cold smoke, mulberries as well as freshly roasted coffee and a hint of Ras-el-Hanout. Extremely polished and compact on the palate, opens to juicy tannin, punchy and with plenty of finesse, keeps coming back, dense, long and balanced." Falstaff

"The 2020 Franchetti is gorgeous, bursting from the glass, spicy and intense, flaunting its Cesanese aromatics with a mix of blackberries, lavender, sage, white pepper and smoke that make this impossible to ignore. This is deeply textural, almost creamy in feel yet spry, with medium-bodied textures and a salty core of minerality that offsets its masses of ripe dark fruits and sweet herbal tones. The length here is astounding, as well as the harmony found within, finishing structured yet sapid, leaving violet florals and nuances of plum sauce to linger on and on and on. This is already so appealing, elegance personified, yet the best is surely yet to come." Vinous