“Feudo di Mezzo” Rosso Etna DOC 2021

Pietradolce | Sicily
Flora Faro s.s. di Michele e Mario Faro | SP 117 N. 56 | IT 95018 Riposto

19223221 · 0,75 l · 65,33 €/lavailable immediately

Feudo di Mezzo is more than just a vineyard – it is the historic centrepiece of viticulture on Etna. One of Pietradolce's oldest and most fascinating plots is located in the contrada of the same name, around 600 metres above sea level between the lava flows of past eruptions. The Nerello Mascalese vines are rooted here in deep black, mineral-rich lava soil with excellent drainage. The microclimate is characterised by wide temperature fluctuations, which give the wine a special depth and tension. Vinification is carried out with great sensitivity: spontaneous fermentation in traditional wooden vats, maturing for around 12 months in large tonneaux.

Clear, sparkling ruby red with a fine orange rim. The aroma is haunting and complex: preserved cherry, wild strawberries, Mediterranean herbs, graphite and a hint of cedar wood. Smoke, iron and salty ash in the background – an olfactory homage to the volcano. The palate has a grippy texture, polished tannins and a cool, almost chalky freshness that dominates the long finish. Deep, but not heavy; structured, but never harsh. Feudo di Mezzo is the most serious and powerful of Pietradolce's Contrada wines. A Nerello Mascalese in its purest form, which makes the rough, stony terroir of Etna just as tangible as the craftsmanship of its producer. A great Etna Rosso for patient connoisseurs. Only 1,200 bottles are produced each year. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2021 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo is thicker, darker and meatier compared to the other wines in this batch of new releases. Winemaking is the same, with fermentation in cement and aging in oak for 12 months, but this wine offers more overall fruit weight and concentration. The aromas recall black cherry and blackcurrant. The wine's open texture feels more accessible." Wine Advocate

"The 2021 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo is perfumed throughout, with rose and violet tones complementing crushed blackberries as a whiff of sweet sage adds lovely lift. It splashes across the palate with a playful feel, soft and fleshy, with a core of zippy acidity and verve to its tart wild berry fruits. Crisp mineral tones mix with raspberry and spice as this finishes long and only slightly tannic, leaving an incredibly fresh impression." Vinous

"Ruby garnet in the glass, with cherry jelly, ripe fruit character and intense notes of graphite and smoke. The attack is soft and velvety, with ripe tannins, crisp acidity and a medium body. It has a solid spine of structure with enough fruit concentration for aging." James Suckling

"The contrada of Feudo di Mezzo produces some of Etna's most delicious red wines, and Pietradolce's bottling is a benchmark. Bold, perfumed dark cherry and blackberry are integrated with wafts of wild herbs and, in the mouth, some volcanic sapidity. There are really fresh acids to balance the weight and intensity, making for a memorable, sumptuous Etna Rosso." Decanter