Passopisciaro Contrada ‘S’ Sciaranuova Nerello Mascelese 2020

Made from Nerello Mascelese, some call it the Barolo of the South, others a cross between Pinot & Nebbiolo. I prefer to say it is itself & delicious. The vineyards of Etna have undergone a major renaissance in the last couple of decades. Passipisciaro has been one of the wineries at the forefront. I was blown away the first time I tasted this wine.

The Chippemacine and Sciaranuovo tend to play at roughly the same weight.

NOTE: The two reviews below were made almost 12 months apart. The 1st by Guido was very close to bottling when the wines would be upset. The 2nd by Callegari a year later when the wines would have had a chance to resolve.

Passopisciaro’s Sciaranuova contrada gives life to a wine with length and depth with a nose of cherries, strawberries, rhubarb, bricks and gunpowder, but also hints of fennel and wild mint. Berries, bitten lip and sour plum skin plus some spicy peppery heat amped up by alcohol results in a welcoming, floral warmth.

Danielle Callegari, Wine Enthusiast 95 Points May 2023

“The 2020 Contrada Sciaranuova (S) is deeply alluring, almost sultry, with an herbal tinged to its bright cherry-berry bouquet, along with hints of animal muskiness that keep me at the edge of the glass. The earth-inspired mix continues on the palate, yet blends with exotic inner florals, citrus-tinged red fruits and energizing acidity. There’s simply so much going on here, and yet the balance is perfect, as the 2020 tapers offlightly structured with a burst of inner sweetness and hints of salted licorice that linger. Wow. While this will age evenly, it’s also worth checking in on early to enjoy its primary nature. The vines of Sciara Nuova grow at 850 meters in soils of volcanic gravel. Drinking Window: 2024 – 2032”

Eric Guido, Vinous 96 Points