Contrada G (Guardiola) Rosso Terre Siciliane IGT 2023

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

19153323 · 0,75 l · 78,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping< 24 units available

Guardiola is the heart of the estate – this is where the winery is located and Franchetti's own plot of land. An old domain between 800 and 1,000 metres above sea level, on the edge of the lava flow from the devastating 1947 eruption. The Nerello vines, which are over 100 years old, are deeply rooted in this mineral-rich soil, which was characterised by the most recent major eruption. Guardiola has only been vinified separately since 2011 – a careful selection of the oldest vines, which produce a deep, complex wine with a rich red fruit flavour. Fermented in steel tanks, 18 months in large neutral oak barrels: The minimalist vinification allows the terroir to speak for itself.

Contrada G reveals a seductive elegance. The nose reveals wild berries, Mediterranean scrub, rose and crushed stone, with a hint of exotic spices. Cherry blossom meets blood and brick, graphite and gunpowder – an aroma of breathtaking complexity. On the palate, Guardiola is full-bodied yet light as a feather, silky at first, then with a savoury core and sour red berries that penetrate the senses. Creamy sour cherry, raspberry compote, star anise and white pepper, plus that smoky minerality that lingers on the final. Contrada G is the most Burgundian of Passopisciaro's single-vineyard wines: supple, perfumed, seamlessly elegant. It is not a wine of massive tannins like Porcaria or Rampante, but a wine with a pull, finesse and that irresistible charm that makes Guardiola one of the most sought-after sites on Etna. SUPERIORE.DE

"Medium-dark ruby red colour with a delicate garnet hue. Fragrant nose of cedar wood, raspberries and redcurrants, flint in the background. Powerful tannins on the palate, broad, interwoven and brooding, spans a wide arc, firm pressure on the final, lingers for a long time." Falstaff

"Guardiola's 800 metres of altitude give the wines made here tons of freshness, and that's what we have in the 2023 Contrada G. Passopisciaro's vines are around 140 years old, giving a core of succulent red fruits aligned with piercing acidity on a really vertical palate, tight and crunchy with tons of energy. Still youthful, it will need time to unwind." Decanter

"The brooding and intense 2023 Rosso Contrada G smolders up with a mix of smoky crushed stones, savory herbs and nuances of spiced orange. This shows a significantly lifted and graceful profile, soft and almost weightless, with inner violet and lavender tones that complement its ripe blackberry fruit. The 2023 leaves a crunchy sensation on the long, edgy finish as a bump of zesty acidity provides balance. This is the most delicate Guardiola I've encountered, but it's a style that really works." Vinous

"A complex, elegant wine. Impressive fresh strawberries and red cherries are enhanced by mint, aromatic herbs and stony minerality. Dense and full-bodied, it shines with powerful structure and almost zesty acidity. Tight, biting yet ripe tannins are dustier in the finish. Needs time." James Suckling