Contrada Dafara Galluzzo, Etna Rosso DOC — 2022
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Introduction
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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.
WINE A prestigious hamlet in the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia, only red varieties are grown, using the traditional alberello (head-trained bush vines) system. A number of these vines are more than one-hundred years old and ungrafted. On the north side of the volcano, the area enjoys a mildly humid climate, a factor that has influenced an evolution of the soils towards very fine granules and very small particles. These factors pave way for a characteristic acidity that provides a refreshing balance, while the wellintegrated tannins offer a smooth, persistent finish. The volcanic minerality from the Ancient Mongibello soils lends a distinctive, gravelly texture that underscores the wine’s complexity.
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Vineyard Profile
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Vines located in Contrada Dafara Galluzzo, in the village of Rovittello (Castiglione di Sicilia), on the northern slope of Mount Etna. Mostly young, head-trained, short-pruned bush vines (“alberello”) grown on small terraces with dry lava-stone walls.
- Appellation: Etna D.O.C. Rosso
- Location: Sicily
- Cultivation: Sustainable
- Vine Age: Mostly young
- Soil: Volcanic sands, rich in minerals, with sub-acid reaction (pH 6.2)
- Density: 8,000 vinestocks per hectare
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Vintage Report
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The climate trend of 2022, already archived as the warmest year of the last 180 years, began with rather regular and abundant winter rainfall. The vegetative awakening of the vineyards occurred regularly and slightly early, and the subsequent phases showed regular and abundant vegetative development. With these premises, flowering and fruit setting took place in the best conditions, allowing the development of full and well-formed bunches.
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Vinification
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Fermentation occurred at a controlled temperature in stainless steel vats, with a 21 days long maceration, using a specific indigenous yeast selected in the vineyard by Benanti. The maturation then continues in used tonneaux of French oak for about 12 months and then in stainless steel tanks.
- Aging: The maturation occurs in used tonneaux of French oak for about 12 months and then in stainless steel tanks. Refined in the bottle for approximately 10 months.
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: Nerello Mascalese
- Alcohol: 14.5%
- TA: 3.6 g/L
- p H: 5.6
- RS: 0.7 g/L
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Tasting Notes
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The wine color is pale ruby red. The scent is ethereal, spicy, with scents of red fruit. The taste and body is dry, medium-to-full bodied, reasonably tannic, balanced and persistent.
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Images
Reviews
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Contrada Dafara Galluzzo, Etna Rosso DOC — 2022 – James Suckling – 94 Points
"A well-made Etna, very fresh and vivid with orange-peel and strawberry character. Medium-bodied, it has fine, vertical tannins and a lightly chewy finish. Nicely structured."
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Contrada Dafara Galluzzo, Etna Rosso DOC — 2022 – Wine Spectator – 92 Points
"A tightly meshed version, offering a core of chalky tannins enmeshed with chopped cherry and wild strawberry fruit, aromatic lavender, thyme and woodsy spices. This is focused and gives the sense of broad shoulders without being weighty. Tar-tinged finish."
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Contrada Dafara Galluzzo, Etna Rosso DOC — 2022 – Vinous – 93 Points
"A darker and deeper shade of red, the 2022 Etna Rosso Contrada Dafara Galluzzo smolders up with an inviting bouquet of dried roses, ash, red currants and orange zest. This is silky-smooth, elegant and refined, with a soothing wave of ripe red and blue fruits energized by a core of zesty acidity. It leaves a crunchy tart-cranberry concentration to linger, finishing firm as a coating of fine-grained tannins resonates. Patience will be required yet also rewarded—the Dafara Galluzzo has an underlying power and complexity that only time will unfurl."