Passopisciaro

Passobianco is an elegant Chardonnay with a beautiful, clear bouquet of aromas of peach blossom, mandarin, pineapple, light berries and mineral notes. Rich, generous taste, full body, sensual texture, long and with memories of macadamia and banana echo. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich, sparkling straw yellow. Opened with notes of flint, then some mirabelle plum and peach. Juicy and steel at the base, with a pronounced salty note at first, then opens with a lot of yellow fruit, supple in the finish." Falstaff

"Pale straw. Honeyed and floral on the fresh, lifted nose. Then rich, ripe and round, with fine-grained pomaceous orchard fruit and pineapple flavors enhanced by lacy minerality. The finish is long featuring a honeyed note." Vinous

"The 2016 Passobianco (a pure expression of Chardonnay) produces a lightweight but solid frame that reminds me on some metaphorical level of that special aluminum used to make racing bicycles. Indeed, this is a racy wine with steely aromas of citrus, white peach and Sicilian almond biscuit. It is put together with impeccable balance and precision. And of course, you get those vaguely scented volcanic notes on the silky finish. It is aged in a combination of large oak vats (for four months) and cement (for eight months). This is a terrific expression of Chardonnay from the deep south of Italy." Robert Parker

Passorosso is a pure Nerello Mascalese, which already shows fine garnet reflections in its ruby red. Proud and fascinating, it presents an intense aroma and engaging taste with clear, well defined fruit and pronounced minerality. Graceful and special. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, luminous ruby red with a brilliant core. In the nose ripe raspberries and fine cherries, opens in the aftertaste on coffee powder and black olives, inviting. Melting and juicy on the palate, carried by light salt, stretches a beautiful arch, powerful and clear in the finale." Falstaff

"The 2016 Etna Rosso Passorosso is the most accessible of the red wines presented by Andrea Franchetti and the team at Passopisciaro in the not-always-easy 2016 vintage. The wine is clean and forthcoming with a nice succession of wild berry and cassis, all framed by spice, tar and toasted aniseed. This wine makes itself immediately available for a pairing with roasted porchetta stuffed with fennel and herbs. The mouthfeel is crisp but compact on the close." Robert Parker

"Luminous red. Floral and mineral nuances complement violet and blueberry aromas on the inviting nose. Clean, bright and juicy, this offers vibrant flavors of ripe dark plum, blackcurrant and minerals. A very pretty wine that finishes taut and saline but with building sweetness and intriguing pepperiness." Vinous

"Andrea Franchetti’s wines helped put Etna on the map. So charming and appealing already, it has delicate and pretty raspberry, cream and gentle spice. Burgundian delicacy and lacy style. I love the juicy, vibrant fruit." Decanter

Passopisciaros Contrada C is an exquisite red with a dark, sensual fruity bouquet. Stylistically like a great Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo, from remarkable intensity on the palate to the persistent finale. A muscular and weightless drop at the same time. SUPERIORE.DE

"Mediterranean scrub, wild berry, dark spice, new leather, dried herb and a whiff of menthol take shape in the glass. The juicy, linear palate shows finesse and great fruit, doling out succulent red cherry, crushed raspberry, star anise and flinty mineral alongside silky tannins." Wine Enthusiast

"Bright red. Sweet spices and red cherry on the vivid nose. Then enters soft and round, but turns livelier, thanks to vibrant acidity that lifts the floral and red cherry flavors. Less explosive on the nose than Rampante and Sciaranuova, with a high, lemony acidity on the palate that speaks of this site’s calcareous soils. The C in the wine’s name stands for Chiappemacine (550 meters asl). The word chiappemacine itself derives from the large stone wheels used to crush olives when making olive oil." Ian d’Agata (vinous.com)

"Snappy tannins and bright acidity are well-meshed with flavors of wild cherry, raspberry, mineral and spice in this vivid, light- to medium-bodied red. Hints of smoke and licorice linger on the creamy finish." Wine Spectator

"Smoky intensity and hints of red fruit on the nose. Tight palate packed with finely chiselled tannins and embryonic red fruit. Elegant, yet way too young." Jancis Robinson

Ruby garnet colour, fine violet note and many spices in the bouquet. Dense and compact with firm tannin and sweet fruit melt. If you give it time, this wine stands at the beginning of a long, promising development. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright red. Menthol, sour red cherry, and redcurrant liqueur on the spicy, intensely perfumed almost aromatic nose. Then also spicy in the mouth, with a fleshy powerful mouthfeel (14% alcohol) and outstanding length. This strikes me as being especially well balanced this year. The S in the name of Contrada S stands for Sciaranuova; these Nerello Mascalese grapes grow at 850 meters above sea level." Ian d’Agata (vinous.com)

"Smoky, stony raspberry nose. Succulent red fruit with fine, powdery tannins. Closes up on the finish, but certainly an elegant wine." Jancis Robinson

"Medicinal herb and spice notes unwind through this grippy, medium-bodied red, which offers lively acidity and flavors of mulled cherry and mineral." Wine Spectator

"Delicate scents of Mediterranean brush, crushed herb, flint, and balsamic notes of menthol and eucalyptus slowly take shape in the glass. The structured palate shows impressive breeding and class, offering dried Marasca cherry, pomegranate, clove and star anise framed in fine-grained tannins. A mineral-driven finish closes it down." Wine Enthusiast

Contrada Rampante thrives on the highest vineyard of Passopisciaro. The soils have a higher sand content and the harvesting takes place here later. In the bouquet dark red cherries, flowers, mint and liquorice. Rampante is an elegant, energetic and energetic red with clear fruit and silkiest tannin. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright red. Very elegant, clean, precise aromas and flavors of red berries, botanical herbs and sweet spices. Finishes very mineral and refined with lots of lingering spicy red fruit. This is the most ready Contrada R." Ian d’Agata (vinous.com)

"All stones and raspberry on the nose and a fine note of spice. Really fine and juicy, light and fragrant. Long with fine, crunchy tannins. Already irresistible." Jancis Robinson

"Pretty rose petal, graphite and juicy cherry flavors are framed by light, dusty tannins and bright acidity in this charming, light- to medium-bodied red." Wine Spectator

"Restrained, subtle aromas of crushed rock, charred earth, Mediterranean scrub and eucalyptus take center stage. The smooth, elegant palate is ethereal and almost weightless, offering succulent strawberry, crushed raspberry, dark baking spice and a hint of anise alongside polished, silky tannins and fresh acidity." Wine Enthusiast

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

"Bright dark red. Intensely aromatic nose of superripe red cherry, spices, minerals, balsamic vinegar and broom. Then clean, vibrant and tactile, with polished tannins providing noteworthy backbone on the long youthful, chewy finish. This will need a long time to smoothen out. The G in the wine’s name stands for Guardiola (800 meters asl). First made in 2011, so much later than the other single contrada wines by Franchetti." Ian d’Agata (vinous.com)

"Fragrant and light red fruit with rather firm tannins. Seems pretty much ready now, but still in cask for the foreseeable future." Jancis Robinson

"Fresh and light- to medium-bodied, this perfumed red offers dried mint, violet and anise accents to the cherry and mandarin orange peel flavors." Wine Spectator

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

Passorosso 2014 is a pure Nerello Mascalese, which already shows fine garnet reflexes in its ruby red. Proud and fascinating, it presents an intense fragrance and engaging taste with clear, well defined fruit and pronounced minerality. Graceful and special. SUPERIORE.DE

"Mouthwatering and medium-bodied, with expressive plum, pomegranate, spice box and dried marjoram flavors. There's grip here, but the tannins are plush and well-knit. A subtle streak of smoke lingers on the finish." Wine Spectator

"Explosive on the nose, showing power and forthright cherry and red-fruit aromas. Broad and fleshy for Etna, this is concentrated and tannic, chewy and forceful. An imposing style that has grandeur rather than finesse. Long." Decanter

"The 2014 Etna Rosso Passorosso (100% Nerello Mascalese) stands out for the brightness and gorgeous intensity of its ruby color and healthy appearance. The wine is integrated but also mellow from an aromatic point of view with subdued tones of wild cherry and dried currant. With time in the glass, that intensity grows at a quick pace. Ultimately, this wine provides a very integrated and balanced taste of the mighty Sicilian volcano. For the first time, this wine has moved from the Terre Siciliane IGT appellation to become an Etna Rosso DOC." Robert Parker

"Bright red-ruby. The captivating nose combines strawberry, raspberry, minerals, violet and flint aromas. Creamy-sweet but amazingly light on its feet, offering palate-staining, perfumed flavors of soft red berries, ripe red cherry, vanilla, aromatic herbs and crushed rock. Rich, ripe and suave, but displays a penetrating, saline and energetic quality that gives this beauty a three-dimensional mouthfeel and a light-on-its-feet quality. Finishes with great length and wonderfully polished tannins. Absolute knockout wine: from a memorable vintage on Etna, this is most likely the best Passorosso ever (in earlier vintages, it used to be called simply Passopisciaro)." Ian d’Agata (vinous.com)

Passopisciaros Contrada C is an exquisite red with a dark, sensual fruity bouquet. Stylistically like a great Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo, from remarkable intensity on the palate to the persistent finale. A muscular and weightless drop at the same time. SUPERIORE.DE

"Smoky intensity and hints of red fruit on the nose. Tight palate packed with finely chiselled tannins and embryonic red fruit. Elegant, yet way too young." Jancis Robinson

"Mediterranean scrub, wild berry, dark spice, new leather, dried herb and a whiff of menthol take shape in the glass. The juicy, linear palate shows finesse and great fruit, doling out succulent red cherry, crushed raspberry, star anise and flinty mineral alongside silky tannins." Wine Enthusiast

"Snappy tannins and bright acidity are well-meshed with flavors of wild cherry, raspberry, mineral and spice in this vivid, light- to medium-bodied red. Hints of smoke and licorice linger on the creamy finish." Wine Spectator

"Bright red. Sweet spices and red cherry on the vivid nose. Then enters soft and round, but turns livelier, thanks to vibrant acidity that lifts the floral and red cherry flavors. Less explosive on the nose than Rampante and Sciaranuova, with a high, lemony acidity on the palate that speaks of this site’s calcareous soils. The C in the wine’s name stands for Chiappemacine (550 meters asl). The word chiappemacine itself derives from the large stone wheels used to crush olives when making olive oil." Ian d’Agata (vinous.com)

Ruby garnet colour, fine violet note and many spices in the bouquet. Dense and compact with firm tannin and sweet fruit melt. If you give it time, this wine stands at the beginning of a long, promising development. SUPERIORE.DE

"Medicinal herb and spice notes unwind through this grippy, medium-bodied red, which offers lively acidity and flavors of mulled cherry and mineral." Wine Spectator

"Bright red. Menthol, sour red cherry, and redcurrant liqueur on the spicy, intensely perfumed almost aromatic nose. Then also spicy in the mouth, with a fleshy powerful mouthfeel (14% alcohol) and outstanding length. This strikes me as being especially well balanced this year. The S in the name of Contrada S stands for Sciaranuova; these Nerello Mascalese grapes grow at 850 meters above sea level." Ian d’Agata (vinous.com)

"Delicate scents of Mediterranean brush, crushed herb, flint, and balsamic notes of menthol and eucalyptus slowly take shape in the glass. The structured palate shows impressive breeding and class, offering dried Marasca cherry, pomegranate, clove and star anise framed in fine-grained tannins. A mineral-driven finish closes it down." Wine Enthusiast

"Smoky, stony raspberry nose. Succulent red fruit with fine, powdery tannins. Closes up on the finish, but certainly an elegant wine." Jancis Robinson