2022 Etna Rosso

The Fedegraziani 2022 Etna Rosso is Nerello Mascalese with 10% Nerello Cappuccio. Fruit is sourced from between 650 and 800 meters in elevation in Passopisciaro and Montelaguardia on the north side of the volcano with sandy ash soils. This hot-vintage expression shows sweet fruit, candied cherry and apricot with a darker color and medium-plus fruit weight. This extra ripeness works well with these grapes, which tend to be especially closed and austere in the cooler years. That plumpness also makes for good near-term drinking. This wine ferments with spontaneous yeasts and matures in stainless steel for 18 months, so grabbing that primary fruit is the whole point of this wine. Production is 6,400 bottles.