“Calderara Sottana” Rosso Etna DOC 2024

Tenuta delle Terre Nere | Sicily
Az. Agr. Tenuta delle Terre Nere | Contrada Calderara | IT 95036 Randazzo

19172324 · 0,75 l · 74,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

In the heart of the northern Etna amphitheatre, where time seems to be carved in stone, lies Calderara Sottana, the realm of black stones. Here, at an altitude of 600 to 650 metres in the municipality of Randazzo, one of the volcano's geological mysteries is revealed: A terroir so rich in stones that, in the most characteristic areas, the soil disappears beneath them – fist-sized, light chunks of black pumice and basalt. The name Calderara evokes the warmth that the black stones absorb during the day and release back into the earth during the cold nights. Marc de Grazia recognised Calderara Sottana as one of the three sacred 'contrade' of the pure Ellittico heritage – that precious geological legacy resulting from the activity of the Ellittico crater between 60,000 and 15,000 years ago. Of all the crus in the Etna DOC, these are undoubtedly the stoniest soils, even stonier than the aristocratic San Lorenzo to the west. Here, ancient vines aged between 50 and 100 years take root in this mineral labyrinth of volcanic rock, where every plant fights for every centimetre of fertile soil.

Calderara Sottana unfolds a dreamy, perfumed bouquet of rose, violet, smoke and tart citrus. In its youth, it displays wild energy and liveliness, with crisp red berry fruit and crunchy mineral notes that create an astonishing tactile sensation, whilst sweet spicy notes echo through the palate. Don pep, the elderly winegrower who tended the Calderara vines for 70 years, aptly described these wines as "cremosi".

And he was right: of all the crus, Calderara is perhaps the most complete: just as a wide-angle lens captures the broadest panorama, so Calderara seems to contain and reveal the widest spectrum of flavours, aromas and nuances. Sixteen to eighteen months in French barriques and tonneaux lend this exceptional terroir the refinement that makes Calderara Sottana a masterpiece of volcanic winemaking – distinctly autumnal, spicy, aromatic and austere all at once, a wine of incredible lightness with wonderful fullness on the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark and brooding, the 2024 Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana offers aromas of dusty earth, tobacco and ash before giving way to citrus-laced black cherries. It's round and pliant with violet florals and nearly creamy textures. Ripe red fruits saturate as fine tannins build toward the close. The 2024 finishes with fabulous length and structure, leaving a touch of cranberry to pucker the cheeks. This will require considerable patience." Vinous

"Soft and silky with a medium body, round and polished tannins, and a long, aromatic finish. So well-balanced and concentrated. A wonderful aftertaste with notes of plums, berries, smoke and spices." James Suckling

"The Tenuta delle Terre Nere 2024 Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana shows a blue-fruit character that I do not find in the other wines. More autumnal in personality, it is born dark, with deep fruit, dusty spice and additional complexity. This wine is remarkably self-controlled, playing on depth and length rather than textural impact. Its spice is especially pronounced on the palate, and the precision of the vineyard's identity resonates throughout. Marco de Grazia describes his approach as "Socratic winemaking", reflecting his background in the classics. Socrates did not provide answers; he asked questions, drawing knowledge out of others. In the same way, the winemaker's role is to draw the vineyard's finest expression from the grapes. The pressed wine is held separately, allowing the team to decide later whether any should be returned to the blend. The goal is to begin with the best possible grapes and extract their best elements, not necessarily all of them. De Grazia invokes the French expression "savoir-faire et faire savoir": the skill to make something well and the ability to communicate what makes it distinctive." Wine Advocate