“Passobianco” Terre Siciliane IGT 2023

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

19150223 · 0,75 l · 37,33 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping< 24 units available

When Andrea Franchetti arrived on the northern slope of Mount Etna in 2000, he found an abandoned volcanic landscape – dilapidated vineyards, overgrown terraces, the gloom of a forgotten wine region. But he recognised the potential of these extreme altitudes. Passobianco, first vinified in 2007, is his white answer to the volcanic terroir: pure Chardonnay from the Contrada Guardiola, planted between 850 and 1,000 metres on steep terraces, where the powdery lava soil glistens black like the night. Fermented in steel tanks at cool temperatures, matured partly in concrete and partly in large wooden barrels – a vinification that preserves purity and creates complexity.

The Chardonnay is mineral and racy here, almost Burgundian in its elegance. The nose opens with ripe yellow apple, pear, grapefruit, plus floral notes of thyme, lavender and orange blossom – and those subtle smoky hints that are due to the volcano. A taut, tense structure unfolds on the palate: the high, bright acidity cuts through the body, giving the wine freshness and length. Mineral notes are reminiscent of oyster shells and flint, while the fine stone fruit nuances remain present until the final. Passobianco epitomises what Franchetti sought and found on Etna: elegance, tension and volcanic depth. SUPERIORE.DE

"A ripe apple aroma mixes with zests of lime and rosemary as the 2023 Passobianco wafts up from the glass. It's soft and round with a pretty blend of white pit fruits and nuances of mint. It finishes completely fresh with a crisp mineral tension and hints of sour citrus." Vinous

"Very sophisticated and complex on the nose with lemons, apples and honeysuckle. Medium-bodied with a tight palate and a smoky, flinty and volcanic finish." James Suckling