“Dagala di Bocca d’Orzo” Rosso Etna DOC 2024

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

19173724 · 0,75 l · 158,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping7 units available
Limitation of 2 articles per customer

On 17 March 1981, a lava flow swept down the northern flank of Mount Etna. It buried what generations of farmers had built up. The Contrada Bocca d'Orzo – always celebrated as one of the most significant vineyards on the entire volcano, alongside the neighbouring San Lorenzo – vanished beneath the lava. And because no one had bottled Bocca d'Orzo separately before 1981, its history vanished with it. There are no bottles, no notes, no reference material. Only memories – and the eyes of old farmers, which light up when you ask them. What the wines there must have been like can be gleaned from a single fact: When the lava cooled, half a dozen winegrowers, whose plots had been buried, covered the solidified lava flow with tonnes of earth and replanted – in the hope of regaining the lost greatness. That is not a rational act. That is faith.

In 2017, Marco de Grazia discovered something that no one had thought possible: a hidden island in the midst of the 1981 lava flow – completely encircled, yet spared. The last surviving vineyard, situated at an altitude of around 800 metres near Bocca d'Orzo. Following negotiations with four brothers – whom de Grazia himself describes as "unspeakable" – the purchase was finalised in 2018. De Grazia immediately named the vineyard "Dagala" – the Sicilian word for island, which he regards as the equivalent of a "clos" in Burgundy. A vineyard that stands alone. A monopoly. 70-year-old Nerello Mascalese vines. North-facing. 5 quintals per hectare – that is 1/16 of the DOC's permitted maximum. Three barriques from the first vintage, 2019. 2,000 bottles per year – no more. The 2024 vintage is the sixth from this great winemaking marvel.

A deep, luminous ruby red with garnet highlights. The bouquet displays exceptional depth and tranquillity: dark cherry, blackberry, lava-like minerality, spices, dried flowers, balsam – multi-layered and with a precision that only a soil with such a history can produce. On the palate, it is both intensely dense and weightless; the tannins are silky yet firm, the acidity supportive and long-lasting, and the final seems to go on forever. A wine that ought not to exist – and which is precisely why it is so moving. SUPERIORE.DE

"Expressive aromas of plums, cherries, smoke, dark chocolate and sandalwood follow through to a full body with a tight, dense center palate and plenty of juicy fruit in the finish. Lots of concentration but not heavy or coarse. Classy and intense!" James Suckling

"The Etna Rosso Bocca d'Orzo 2024 is spicy on the nose and brims with notes of crushed strawberries and cherries, cloves, dried roses and cedar wood. This invigorates the palate with lively acidity and a cool edge, making it feel energetic and zesty, whilst the soft, broodingaromas of wild berries run through the whole wine. The 2024 captivates with its lively tension; it is well-structured and long-lasting. This is an exciting, stunningly beautiful Etna Rosso." Vinous

"The Tenuta delle Terre Nere 2024 Etna Rosso Dagala di Bocca d'Orzo comes from a 0.5-hectare exclusive vineyard near San Lorenzo and is produced in a run of 1,500 bottles, compared with just 900 bottles in 2023. Marco de Grazia discovered the tiny vineyard and the little cottage whilst planting vines in San Lorenzo; he acquired the plot in 2018 and produced the first vintage in 2019. The Sicilian word "dagala" describes a headland surrounded by lava. This wine has a darker and more pronounced volcanic character, combining the relentless rigour of Calderara with the richness of San Lorenzo. Austere and reserved, it is reminiscent of a dark lava stone wall. The wine plays with depth, tension and volcanic power, remaining steadfast without wavering." Wine Advocate