“A' Puddara” Bianco Etna DOC 2024

Tenuta di Fessina | Sicily
Tenuta di Fessina s.a. a.r.l. | Via Nazionale SS 120 22 | IT 95012 Castiglione di Sicilia

19190224 · 0,75 l · 38,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

High up on the southern slopes of Mount Etna, where the Contrada Manzuedda in Biancavilla rises towards the sky at an altitude of 900 metres, lies an extraordinary vineyard, as old as the dreams that gave rise to it. Here, between the eternal snow of the peaks and the flames of the volcano, where the first Carricante vines took root in the volcanic soil in 1950, A' Puddara, "the hen", is born. This is what the Sicilians call the Pleiades in their dialect – those seven sisters in the night sky who, in summer, shine from the sea above the volcanic peak. Silvia Maestrelli, Fessina's visionary pioneer who sadly passed away far too soon, dedicated this wine to the starry skies of her Sicilian nights – a fitting tribute to this island of dreams and fire.

Full fermentation in large casks, as has been the tradition for Carricante winemaking for centuries. A rigorous wine, sharply defined like the summit of the Montagna, which stands out against the night sky. The wine shines in a straw-yellow hue with green highlights. Its bouquet unfolds with symphonic complexity: graphite and orange peel, mango and broom, aromatic herbs carried by the high-altitude wind. On the palate, the greatness of this authentic mountain wine is revealed: vertical minerality and high acidity, lemon zest and tropical fruits in perfect balance. The attack is sweetish with buttery notes, followed by a grand final – salty and briny. Man, wine and volcano in perfect harmony. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2024 Etna Bianco A'Puddara opens with an inviting blend of almond custard, fresh mint and crushed stone. It presents silky textures and brisk acidity with a solid core of mineral-infused orchard fruit and spice. The 2024 tapers off with notable length and refinement, revealing a salty flourish and lovely inner florals." Vinous

"The Tenuta di Fessina 2024 Etna Bianco A' Puddara is very bright and pretty, with terrific vibrancy and a small waxy element that gives the wine a glossy side. Budding hydrocarbons add complexity, while ginger and spicy green caper emerge with time. I especially like the linear freshness, focus and mineral character. This pure Carricante is less intense than some of its peers, but its streamlined shape is very appealing. Fruit comes from old vines in Biancavilla at 980 meters in elevation on Etna's southwestern slope, where clay, tuff and limestone mix with volcanic sand. Fermentation is in French oak, followed by 12 months on the lees and another 12 months in bottle." Wine Advocate