2022 Contrada Guardiola

From Contrada Guardiola. 70- to 100-year-old vines planted at a density of 8,000 plants per ha. The vineyards are between 800 and 1,000 m asl. Youthful mid ruby. A little richer than Contrada R with deep strawberry fruit on the nose with notes of extinguished log fire and hints of rosemary. But on the palate, much lighter of touch yet with plenty of red fruit and acidity and layered with powdery tannins. Closes up. More to come. Energetic, wired acidity pushes the finish. (WS)

Smoky and ashy in the glass, the 2022 Etna Rosso Contrada Guardiola opens with a burst of ashen stones and grilled herbs, evolving into crushed black cherries and lifted by hints of menthol. It sweeps across the palate with textures of pure silk as a polished wave of red and black fruits swirls around a core of lively acidity. Its structure comes through on the finish as a staining of primary concentration adds a firm grip. Saline minerals linger under an air of inner florals. The 2022 Guardiola was the result of two separate harvests that were about 20 days apart due to rain. This is a wine that contrasts stunning depth with an energetic feel.