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Over the last few years, the amount of Etna Rosso in my cellar has been steadily increasing. Along with Passopisciaro, the wines of Calabretta, Terre Nerre, Girolamo Russo and Graci have caught my attention. Perhaps, it’s no coincidence that their vineyards are located around the corner from each other.
Made from 100% Nerello Mascelese. Passopisciaro, with this other producers, has stood out through their consistent ability to deliver wines of personality, intrigue and great harmony.
Today we offer Passopisciaro 2016 wines including the Contrade.
Having tasted an array of Nerello Mascelese from 2016 from Graci, Terre Nere and more, the wines have show an insane tension energy and core of fruit. It is undoubtedly an excellent year for Lava Juice!
About Passopisciaro
Read all about our extensive tastings of Passopisciaro wines in our Wine Bites Mag article “Passopisciaro the Jurasic Park of Wine! Ancient Vines Revived to Create the Liquid Essence of Etna!”
The article includes a look at all the Contrade from both 2012 and 2013.
Passopisciaro is at once both a fossil and a piece of modern art! Vines aged from 70-120 years old grow on the slopes of a volcano at altitudes that make noses bleed. Less than 20 years ago these wines were unknown, the Grandfathers of today’s revolutionists made simple wine from overcropped vineyards.
Today the next generations are pushing the boundaries making wines from 100% Nerello Mascalese. Often referred to as a hybrid of the great Nebbiolo’s from Barolo and Pinot Noir’s from Burgundy, Nerello Mascalese is capable of making wines with real personality! They’ve taken something incredibly ancient, gone back to the DNA and started again. In under a decade the evolution of these wines have accelerated through a millennia.
Vines have been nurtured back to balance, tended by hand on terraced vineyards that one in every 3 years find themselves under ash clouds hurled into the sky from the very mountain they are planted on, a volcano, Mt Etna!
The 2016 Vintage
From the Winery:
At Passopisciaro, 2016 gave us even, steadily ripening grapes so that we were able to pick with an exact timing. I would run up every morning to find the same little jump forward in the vineyards then decide to give them another night. I would descend to the winery where the fluid procession of pickups loaded with nerello fruit from all our contradas had resumed.
First, one is surprised by the grapes’ way of ripening on the vine. When grapes have been fermenting for three for three on four days, you begin to see the style of the wine just in time to help it along. Each year carries wine that we have never seen before, their makings not in the year’s weather.
The character of this vintage will be similar across every territory of Italy: wines of 2016 will be smooth because the grapes were ripe; they will be gentle, because taste and color are coming away from the grapes effortlessly. We had no need to push and squeeze in the tank.
Your tongue will thank you!
*Stocks will move fast. First come, first served. Wines will be allocated on a 1st in 1st served basis for delivery in late May.
About the Wines
2016 Passorosso
“Woodland berry, smoke, wild rose and Mediterranean scrub lead the way on this vibrant red. Racy and succulent, the savory, focused palate delivers juicy strawberry, red cherry, star anise and chopped herb alongside polished tannins and bright acidity. A saline note gives it a tangy finish. Drink 2020–2026.”
“This light- to medium-bodied red shows fine balance, with bright ripe cherry fruit, orange zest and tea leaf flavors. A subtle streak of tarry mineral gains momentum on the chewy finish.”
Passopisciaro Contrada Chiappemacine 2016
Contrada Chiappemacine (Contrada C) is a small domain at 550 m (1,000 ft) above sea level, our lowest site for a single vineyard cru. The site produces a more full-bodied, rounder style because it lies on the last outreach of Mount Etna’s lava; beneath the thinner strata of lava lies a limestone bed to which the vines penetrate. We own 1.2 hectares of vines in this contrada.
“Contrada Chiappemacine is a small cru situated at 1,800 feet above sea level, which lies on the outreaches of Mount Etna’s lava, with soils composed of sheets of lava resting on top of limestone. The Nerello Mascalese receives malolactic fermentation, followed by 18 months aging in large, neutral oak barrels. It begins with beautiful fresh aromatics of red fruits, spices, dried florals, wet stones, eucalyptus hints of earthy minerals all developing beautifully in the glass. This possesses a medium body with notable concentration and remarkable overall balance. The combination of ripe fruit and acidity is sensational. It continues to impress with its purity and wonderful fresh character all the way through the long, silky finish. While Chiappemacine already shows flashes of brilliance, readers should plan on allowing this some additional bottle age before it begins to show its best. Nonetheless, this is yet another absolutely stunning Nerello Mascalese from Andrea Franchetti in this vintage.”
“This has a shy nose that eventually reveals subtle aromas evoking dark culinary spice, crushed rock, crushed herb and a whiff of blue flower. The palate boasts the firm’s trademark of structure and weightless elegance, delivering red cherry, wild strawberry, orange zest, star anise and salty minerals alongside polished tannins. It’s well balanced, with bright acidity. Drink 2021–2028.”
“A medium- to full-bodied, focused red, with sculpted tannins tightly meshed to flavors of ripe black raspberry, cured tobacco, pomegranate and savory smoke. Offers a lingering, spiced finish.”
Passopisciaro Contrada Porcaria 2016
Contrada Porcaria (Contrada P) is a large old domain at 650 m (2,100 ft) a.s.l. and is considered Mount Etna’s famous and sought-after contrade because of the lush, robust wines it produces. The soil is made of a frail sheet of lava that splinters under one’s feet. We make wine from 1.5 hectares that we own within this cru.
“This stunning Nerello Mascalese is sourced from Contrada Porcaria, which is situated at 2,100 feet above sea level, with soils consisting of frail lava sheets. The wine itself is simply striking, as it begins with inviting aromas of dark cherries, black raspberries and pomegranate, woven together with dried florals, spices, dried mediterranean herbs and wet stones which all take shape in the glass. On the palate this is elegant with a gorgeous texture, backed by fine tannins. It is beautifully balanced with outstanding concentration and remarkable finesse leading up the finish. Classy and refined, this is an absolutely brilliant wine from Andrea Franchetti which is already stunning in its youth, yet should certainly go on to have a marvelous future ahead.”
“Wild red berry, dark culinary spice, blue flower, moist soil and flinty aromas escape from the glass. Elegant yet enveloping, the succulent palate evokes crushed raspberry, star anise, truffle and a whiff of Mediterranean herb. Polished tannins and bright acidity provide lithe support and balance. Drink 2021–2028.”
“Creamy tannins lend supple definition to the raspberry coulis, fig cake, rosemary and espresso flavors that ripple on the silky palate of this mouthwatering, medium-bodied red, firming on the lingering finish.”
Passopisciaro Contrada Guardiola 2016
Contrada Guardiola (Contrada G) is an ancient domain between 800 and 1,000 m (2,600 to 3,300 ft) above sea level, on the edge of the lava flow from Etna’s 1947 eruption. It produces a deep and complex wine with a rich taste of red fruit. We make this wine from a careful selection of some of our older nerello mascalese vines, which we started bottling separately beginning in 2011.
"Enticingly fragrant, this stunning red opens with delicate but alluring scents of wild berry, Mediterranean brush, rose, crushed rock and a whiff of exotic spice. It’s full bodied but loaded with finesse, delivering creamy red cherry, raspberry compote, star anise and white pepper. Taut, refined tannins and lively acidity provide support and balance, while a savory mineral note lingers on the close. Drink 2021–2036.”
“An understated elegance details this vibrant, medium- to full-bodied red, with ripe raspberry and sun-dried cherry fruit, married to fine tannins and accents of dried thyme, fig cake, citrus and tobacco. A subtle streak of smoky mineral echoes on the finish.”
“Contrada Guardiola is over 100-years-old and is located between 2,600 to 3,300 feet above sea level, situated on the edge of the lava flows from Etna’s 1947 eruption. Passopisciaro makes this wine from a careful selection of older Nerello Mascalese vines, which was fermented in stainless steel vats for 15 days, followed by 18 months in large, neutral oak barrels. The wine itself is absolutely beautiful, as it begins with pretty aromas of strawberries and cherries which come together with fresh rose petals, light spices, wet stones and hints of underlying eucalyptus all taking shape in the glass. On the palate this is medium-bodied with lovely overall balance and a gorgeous silky texture. Vivid flavors of red fruits and mineral notes continue to shine as it shows wonderful elegance and finesse through the finish. This is an absolutely fantastic wine, however it shows some restraint at this stage, and readers should plan on allowing this some short-term cellaring before approaching. Nonetheless, this is another terrific wine from Passopisciaro and should have a wonderful evolution ahead.”
Passopisciaro Contrada Sciaranuova 2016
Contrada Sciaranuova (Contrada S) is located at 850 m (2,800 ft) above sea level on Mount Etna. In Sicilian, “sciara nuova” means “new lava flow.” The vines here are planted on relatively new lava flow from the 1600s that has turned into thick gravel. The wines produced from this site are bright, aromatic, and have a rich taste of fermented hay and a dusty herbal quality. We own 1 hectare of this tiny cru and produce about 2,000 bottles annually of our Contrada S.
“Subtle aromas of black-skinned berry, rose, sea breeze and wet rock shape the nose. On the elegant, full-bodied palate, velvety tannins and vibrant acidity provide structure and finesse for juicy Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, star anise and a salty mineral note. It’s full bodied but also irresistibly weightless. Drink 2021–2031.”
“Contrada Sciaranuova is a 90-year-old vineyard located at 2,800 feet above sea level on Mount Etna. The vines are planted on relatively new lava flows from the 1600’s which has turned into thick gravel. The 2016 is simply stunning, as it begins with inviting aromas of raspberries and dark cherries woven together with florals, spices, minerals and hints of smoke which all take shape in the glass. On the palate this is beautifully textured, with gorgeous silky tannins and wonderful finesse. It continues to impress with its outstanding balance and focus. It possesses gorgeous bright acidity at its core, which expands through the fresh finish, where wild red berries, florals and mineral characteristics continue to lingering on. Overall, Sciaranuova is absolutely sensational in this vintage and while it already drinking beautifully it is certainly destined for a fantastic future.”
“Spice and graphite notes on the nose lead to crushed cherry, wild sage and licorice flavors in this harmonious, medium-bodied red, finely woven with rich minerality and elegant tannins that emerge on the finish.”
Passopisciaro Contrada Rampante 2016
Contrada Rampante (Contrada R) is our highest cru at 1,000 m (3,330 ft) above sea level. At the highest confines of viticulture on the northern side of Etna, Rampante is ancient contrada, producing one of volcano’s finest, most aromatic wines because of the sandy character that the lava has acquired. Due to the altitude, it is typically the last contrada to ripen. We own and cultivate 1.4 hectares on this domain.
“Compelling aromas of Mediterranean brush, dark spice, pressed flower, graphite and aromatic herb draw you in for more of this elegant red. Focused and intense, it boasts great energy, offering juicy wild cherry, rosemary, white pepper and star anise, framed in bright acidity and extremely refined tannins. It’s gorgeous and already enjoyable but will offer a decade or more of exquisite drinking.”
“An enticing red, graceful and mouthwatering, weaving a skein of fragrant spice and fine-grained tannins with a lovely range of brambly raspberry and currant fruit, accented by hints of dried fig, herb and rose hip. Firm and focused on the racy, minerally finish.”
“Contrada Rampante is located at 3,330 feet above sea level, which is the highest altitude for viticulture on the northern side of Mt. Etna. This Contrada is over 100-years-old with vines planted on ancient lava spills. Due to the altitude, Rampante is typically the last to ripen. This certainly reflects in the wine, as Rampante is the most refined and elegant expression from Passopisciaro. It also possesses the highest level of acidity, which one would expect from such a high altitude. The wine itself is simply gorgeous, as it begins with clean, fresh aromas of red berries, cassis, minerals and hints of dried spices all taking shape. On the palate this displays a delicate, medium body, which is supported by fine, silky tannins. It demonstrates wonderful focus and its bright acidity provices a wonderful vibrancy heading into the pretty finish. Rampante is a total beauty and an absolutely dazzling, terroir driven expression of Nerello Mascalese, however it is the most restraint wine from Andrea Franchetti in this vintage, and will require some time in the cellar before it begins to show its best.”
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PRE-ARRIVAL OFFER – 2016
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