Contrada C (Chiappemacine) Rosso Terre Siciliane IGT 2023

Passopisciaro | Sicily
Vini Franchetti s.r.l. | Via Val d'Orcia 15 | IT 53047 Sarteano

19152723 · 0,75 l · 78,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

Chiappemacine is the lowest of the five single vineyards of Passopisciaro – only 550 metres above sea level, at the lowest foothills of the Etna lava flows. Here, where the thin layer of lava meets a limestone bed to which the roots of the 70 to 100-year-old Nerello vines penetrate, a different style emerges: fuller, rounder, more accessible than the higher-lying contrade. This small domain covers just 1.2 hectares – but what grows here has its own personality. Fermented in steel tanks, matured for 18 months in large neutral oak barrels – a minimalist vinification that lets the terroir speak for itself.

Contrada C reveals a delicate, almost floating elegance. The nose reveals wild rose and violet, along with strawberry, sour cherry, a hint of camphor and wild berries, mineral notes of wet stone. The sandstone soil gives the wine a certain richness without disguising the typical Etna freshness. On the palate, Chiappemacine is silky and smooth, almost creamy, with red and black berries, star anise, cinnamon and a salty minerality on the final. The tannins are fine-grained, polished, the acidity lively. Contrada C is the most accessible of Passopisciaro's single-vineyard wines, charming even when young, but with the potential to age for over a decade. A Nerello Mascalese that shows what the lower vineyards on the volcano can achieve: Fullness with finesse, power with elegance. SUPERIORE.DE

"Light, bright ruby colour with a broad garnet rim. Fine but restrained nose. Aromas of ripe redcurrants and redcurrant jelly, plus fresh raspberry and dried orange peel. Some grippy, gripping tannins on the palate, opens up in many layers." Falstaff

"A mix of spiced cherries, woodland berries, cedar shavings and cloves defines the 2023 Rosso Contrada C. This possesses a core of silken textures and a blend of red and blue fruits, cool-toned and pliant as an air of lavender pastille forms toward the close. It tapers off pleasantly tart and full of tension, with sweet, rounded tannins." Vinous

"Tight and bright, with sturdy tannins, saline cherry and blood orange, and a ferrous touch on the finish. From contrada Chiappemacine, at 550 metres above sea level in Passopisciaro. These wines always need a bit of time to show at their best." Decanter