Cantine Tornatore
Etna Rosso Contrada Trimarchisa 2018
| Denomination | DOC Etna Rosso |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.0% by volume |
| Area | Sicily (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | 95% Nerello Mascalese, 5% Nerello Cappuccio |
| Aging | Aged for 18 months in 25 hl French oak barrels (also partly in concrete vats) and 6 months in bottle before release. |
- Origin Etna DOC: Contrada Trimarchisa, Castiglione di Sicilia, altitude between 500 and 700 metres
- Native grape blend: 95% Nerello Mascalese and 5% Nerello Cappuccio
- Vines over 40 years old: heroic cultivation on terraces with dry-stone lava walls
- Vinification: 10-12 days in wooden vats, aged for 18 months in oak and concrete
- Serving: notes of red fruits and volcanic minerality; decant for 1 hour, serve at 16–18°C
Description
What kind of wine it is
Produced by Tornatore with a blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio grapes, this Etna Rosso displays a ruby colour with slight garnet reflections. On the nose, it offers wild berries, blue flowers, liquorice and a pronounced volcanic minerality. On the palate, it is dynamic, with a pleasant acidity and fine-grained silky tannins. The savoury finish prolongs the spicy notes. It is excellent for pairing with complex Mediterranean cuisine, braised meats, game and mature cheeses.
Where it comes from
It originates in Verzella, in the territory of Castiglione di Sicilia, where the old vines of over forty years grow between 500 and 700 metres on volcanic and calcareous soils, enjoying an ideal microclimate between Etna and the Nebrodi mountains. The agronomic management is a true example of heroic viticulture on characteristic steep terraces. These plots, painstakingly carved out of ancient lava flows, are supported by traditional dry-stone walls made of lava stone, which preserve the land and impart profound complexity to the grapes.
How it is produced
The production process begins towards the end of October with manual harvesting and careful selection in the cellar. The partially crushed bunches are transferred into truncated-cone wooden vats where fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature, supported by regular mechanical and manual punch-downs. After adequate maceration, the mass is subjected to a vertical press. The slow maturation process involves eighteen months of ageing in medium-toast French oak barrels, alongside the use of concrete vats. The wine finally completes its evolution with a valuable bottle ageing period of six months.
History and Curiosities
Produced on the volcanic slopes of Castiglione di Sicilia, Etna Rosso Contrada Trimarchisa celebrates the historic heritage of the Tornatore winery. This wine is the result of fascinating heroic viticulture, with ancient vines cultivated on terraces carved out of the hard lava stone. The 2018 vintage offers a profound and authentic expression of the Etna region, already awarded prestigious international accolades, including the Tre Bicchieri from Gambero Rosso and an excellent score from James Suckling.
Awards
-
2018
94/100
James Suckling is an influential American wine critic and journalist who worked at Wine Spectator for 30 years. He left the magazine in 2010 to start his own website and guidebook (JamesSuckling.com). He specialises in Italian and Bordeaux wines.
-
2018
93/100
Vinous is the online guide from Antonio Galloni, one of the world's leading wine connoisseurs.
-
2018
92/100
Wine spectator is the most influential wine guide on the internet.
Tasting notes
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
16 - 18 °C
Longevity:
10 - 15 years
Decanting time:
1 hour
- Start up year: 1865
- Oenologist: Angelo Di Grazia
- Bottles produced: 350.000
- Hectares: 72
| Name | Tornatore Etna Rosso Contrada Trimarchisa 2018 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red green still |
| Denomination | Etna DOC |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.0% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 95% Nerello Mascalese, 5% Nerello Cappuccio |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Vendor | Cantine Tornatore |
| Story | History and Curiosities Produced on the volcanic slopes of Castiglione di Sicilia, Etna Rosso Contrada Trimarchisa celebrates the historic heritage of the Tornatore winery. This wine is the result of fascinating heroic viticulture, with ancient vines cultivated on terraces carved out of the hard lava stone. The 2018 vintage offers a profound and authentic expression of the Etna region, already awarded prestigious international accolades, including the Tre Bicchieri from Gambero Rosso and an excellent score from James Suckling. |
| Origin | Contrada Trimarchisa, Verzella (hamlet of Castiglione di Sicilia, Catania), slopes of Mount Etna |
| Soil composition | Volcanic and calcareous soils |
| Cultivation system | Spurred cordon |
| Yield per hectare | 6,000 kg/hectare |
| Harvest | Second and third decade of October |
| Fermentation temperature | 22–25°C |
| Fermentation | Circa 10–12 giorni |
| Production technique | Fermentation and maceration in truncated conical wooden vats, with manual punching down; pressing with a traditional vertical press; ageing in French oak barrels and in concrete tanks |
| Wine making | The grapes are destemmed but not completely crushed, then transferred to truncated conical wooden vats where they ferment and macerate for about 10–12 days at 22–25°C, with manual punch-downs several times a day using a pneumatic punch-down tool. After fermentation, a post-fermentation maceration takes place for a few days, followed by racking and pressing with a traditional vertical press; maturation occurs in 25 hl French oak barrels for 18 months (with part also in concrete vats) and 6 months in bottle before release. |
| Aging | Aged for 18 months in 25 hl French oak barrels (also partly in concrete vats) and 6 months in bottle before release. |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |