Contrada PC (PassoChianche) Terre Siciliane IGT 2022

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

19150322 · 0,75 l · 76,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping< 24 units available

Andrea Franchetti discovered this tiny, terraced plot back in 2000 – a narrow strip of black sand, as fine as face powder, between 870 and 950 metres above sea level on the northern Etna slope. Here, on the highest Chardonnay vineyard in Italy, he recognised an exceptional habitat for this Burgundian grape variety. However, it was only after years of precise observation, micro-vinifications at various stages of maturation and the realisation that this site has a personality all of its own that the estate decided to bottle the wine separately as Contrada PC in 2018. 36 hours of maceration, fermentation in neutral 20-hectolitre barrels, then 17 months of ageing in large oak barrels – at least six months on the fine lees to enrich the wine and emphasise its potential. The naturally occurring malolactic fermentation in the barrel gives the wine a creamy fullness without disguising its mineral precision. Bottled unfiltered according to the cycles of the waning moon, followed by a further year of bottle ageing to reach its full potential.

PassoChianche is the result of years of experience with Chardonnay on the volcano. The nose reveals complexity and depth: cooked apples, crème caramel, nougat, lime, honey and apricot, a hint of white pepper and honeysuckle. The flavours alternate between maturity and freshness, between sweet and salty notes – hazelnut, toasted wood, quince, kumquat, mineral hints of stone and basalt. The palate reveals all the power of this vineyard: full-bodied yet firm, with a texture that oscillates between velvety and silky, carried by a lively acidity that adds tension. Contrada PC epitomises what Chardonnay can achieve on Etna: A balance between richness and elegance, between volcanic minerality and Burgundian finesse. Less than 7,000 bottles are produced each year – a wine with incredible potential that can age for decades. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2022 Bianco Contrada PC lifts from the glass with an air of sweet spice, giving way to nuances of kiwi, lime zest and white smoke. It sweeps across the palate with soothingly round textures and ripe orchard fruits, taking on a gentle mineral tension toward the close. This is understated yet refined throughout, leaving a twang of sour citrus and a salty sensation to fade slowly on the finish." Vinous

"Made with Chardonnay that is cultivated at an extreme 900 to 1,000 meters above sea level, this is a very special wine. The Passopisciaro 2022 Contrada PC is very attractive off the bat with a beautiful combination of white flower, candied pear, spice and crushed stone. The wine offers intensity and brightness with a firm, almost salty finish." Wine Advocate

"Love tasting this. Subtle cooked apples, sandalwood, white roses, apple blossoms and sliced pears on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, this has precise, crunchy fruit and a spicy, pleasantly bitter aftertaste from the stone, ash and flint. From chardonnay planted at 950 meters of altitude." James Suckling