Tenuta Tascante, Etna Rosso (Sicily, Italy) Contrada Rampante, Nerello Mascalese 2019 ($52, Dalla Terra)

Mt. Etna rises to 11,000+ feet on the eastern side of Sicily. It is Europe’s largest active volcano and ringed by vineyards which are occasionally damaged by lava flows. Tenuta Tascante was established on Mt. Etna in 2007 by the Tasca d’Almerita family – Sicilian vintners for over 200 years. The 2019 Tascante Contrada Rampante is an elegant, appealing, and complex wine. While it shows the ripeness of the harvest and the sleek and subtle spiciness of oak, the unique style of the Nerello Mascalese grape shows clearly. Layers of delicate raspberry, red plum and cherry fruits are underlain by hints of dried roses, tea leaf and spice. The flavors are elegant and complex, with the delicate fruits enveloped by tea leaf, forest floor and subtle spice nuances. The beautiful, long finish highlights the inherent breadth and complexity of the wine.
94 Wayne Belding