Contrada Cavaliere, Etna Bianco DOC — 2022
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Introduction
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THE WINERY: Winemaking in the Benanti family can be traced back to the late 1800s in Viagrande. This deep-rooted passion for wine is what led Giuseppe Benanti to establish the namesake winery in 1988.
THE WINE: The south-western slope of Mount Etna in Contrada Cavaliere (part of the village of Santa Maria di Licodia), is particularly suited for its high elevation and abundant luminosity.
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Vineyard Profile
- Appellation: Etna D.O.C. Bianco
- Location: Sicily
- Cultivation: Sustainable
- Vine Age: 50 years old
- Soil: Volcanic sands, rich in minerals, with sub-acid reaction
- Exposure: Southwest exposure
- Density: 6,500 vinestocks per hectare
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Vintage Report
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In spring, the rain increased powdery mildew. However, our traditional vineyard cultivation methods kept the bunches intact. The hot and dry summer led to water stress, resulting in the development of sugars and extractive substances in our native vines. The autumn rain did not damage the bunches or their ripening. The precise green pruning and leaf removal kept the bunches healthy without the need for additional treatments. Our 2021 harvest started in September and ended in mid-October. The volcanic activity enriched the soil in Contrada Rinazzo.
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Vinification
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Grapes are hand-picked after mid-October and softly pressed. Fermentation occurs for about 12 days at a controlled temperature in stainless steel vats, using a specific indigenous yeast selected in the vineyard by Benanti. The wine matures in stainless steel tanks on the fine lees for about 12 months, with frequent stirrings.
- Aging: Stainless steel tanks on the fine lees for 12 months, until bottling. In the bottle for 6 months.
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: Carricante
- Alcohol: 12.5%
- TA: 6.3 g/L
- p H: 3.24
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Tasting Notes
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Pale yellow with greenish tints. Intense, rich, delicate, fruity scent with hints of orange blossom and ripe apple. Dry, mineral, harmonious with pleasant acidity, aromatic persistence, and aftertaste of anise and almond.
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Images
Reviews
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Contrada Cavaliere, Etna Bianco DOC — 2022 – Wine Spectator – 91 Points
"This bright, open-knit white crackles with acidity, showing zesty hints of white pepper and grapefruit peel, plus notes of peach skin, smoke, preserved lemon and lentils."
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Contrada Cavaliere, Etna Bianco DOC — 2022 – Vinous – 91 Points
"The 2022 Etna Bianco Contrada Cavaliere is youthfully coy with a delicately perfumed mix of wildflowers, white smoke and ginger-tinged green apples. Built on purity, it’s lifted and refined with a burst of saline minerality up front and crisp orchard fruits that add a crunchy sensation toward the close. The 2022 finishes staining and long with youthful tension, a tinge of salinity and a sensation of liquid stone."