Made primarily with Nerello Mascalese, a red grape variety that grows on the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna, this is an enticing and very distinctive-tasting wine. It offers a fruit and spice bouquet, with floral hints, and though fairly light bodied on the palate, nonetheless has plenty of deep, satisfying flavor, finishing with pasty but not oppressive tannins. Although the 2013 has been released, this 2011 is still being offered for sale and is drinking beautifully right now.
Le Vigne di Eli, Etna Rosso DOC (Sicily, Italy) 2011
By Paul Lukacs