“Franchetti” Rosso Terre Siciliane IGT 2023

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

19153123 · 0,75 l · 158,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

When Andrea Franchetti stood on the abandoned terraces of Mount Etna in 2000, he wasn't just dreaming of the renaissance of Nerello Mascalese. He dreamed of something impossible: a wine that would capture the fire of the volcano in bottle form – deep black like cooled lava, dense like volcanic smoke, concentrated like the embers inside the earth. In the Contrada Guardiola, at an altitude of 820 metres, he planted two grape varieties in the early 2000s that never belonged there: Petit Verdot from Saint-Julien and Cesanese d'Affile from Lazio – a vine that he saved from extinction. The Sicilians thought he was crazy. The wine world was sceptical. But in 2005, when the first vintage was released, the critics fell silent. Franchetti had not only created a wine – he had materialised his vision of Etna.

The 2023 combines 70% Petit Verdot with 30% Cesanese d'Affile to create a wine of breathtaking intensity. The glass reveals an inky black colour. The nose reveals violets and lavender, sage and white pepper, blackcurrants and exotic spices, underpinned by that unmistakable hint of volcanic ash and campfire smoke. This velvety, almost creamy texture on the palate – layers of dark fruits, mulberries and plum sauce, framed by fine, dense tannins and carried by that salty minerality that only volcanic soil can give. After eight months in new French barriques and ten months in cement barrels, Franchetti remains what it has always been: not a wine of terroir, but a wine of vision. While the Contrada wines speak the language of their vineyards, Franchetti speaks the language of its sadly deceased creator. A "Super Etna" that proves that great wines do not have to follow the rules. Deep, dark, unyielding – and yet with an elegance that only Etna can give. SUPERIORE.DE

"Deep, dark ruby colour. Intense and appealing nose, full of blueberries and elderberries, with hints of carob flour and smoke. Rich fruit on the palate, crisp and robust, with notes of dark berries, opens with tightly structured tannins, firm pressure, still somewhat raw overall." Falstaff

"The 2023 Franchetti opens with an herbal and spicy bouquet, showcasing its Cesanese component up front. An air of wet stone, rosemary, and citrus-spiked blackberry reaches up from the glass. It displays elegant, silky textures offset by saturating depths of ripe red and black fruit, all guided by a core of zesty acidity. The 2023 tapers off with masses of primary concentration and firm tannins, leaving licorice and tart wild berry tones that tug at the senses. The 2023 will require time to find its footing. I tasted this from tank prior to bottling." Vinous

"Almost purple in color, this bold red shows aromas of black cherries, flint, gunpowder, basalt and violets. It's medium-bodied with firm, silky tannins and a flavorful finish. New wood at the end. Solid and structured." James Suckling