Contrada Monte Serra, Etna Rosso DOC — 2020
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Vineyard Profile
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Contrada Monte Serra, on the slopes of Monte Serra, an ancient extinct volcanic cone within the territory of the village of Viagrande (CT), on the south-eastern flank of Mount Etna
Appellation: Etna DOC Rosso
Climate: High hill climate, humid and rainy in the cooler season, with high ventilation and luminosity
Altitude: 450 m a.s.l. / 1,500 ft a.s.l.
Vine Age: Ranging from 14 to 100+ years old.
Training: Head-trained, short-pruned bush vines (“alberello”), grown on small terraces with dry lava-stone walls
Soil: Sandy, volcanic, rich in minerals, with sub-acid reaction (pH 6.3)
Density: 9,000 vinestocks per hectare (3,644 vines per acre)
Yield: 6,500 kg/ha
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Vinification
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Grapes are hand-picked in late September / early October, de-stemmed and softly pressed. Fermentation occurs at a controlled temperature in stainless steel, with a 21 days long maceration, using an indigenous yeast selected in the vineyards by Benanti Maturation occurs in used tonneaux of French oak for about 12 months.
- Aging: In tonneaux of French oak (used) for 12 months and then in stainless steel tanks. Followed by 10 months in the bottle.
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: Nerello Mascalese, the noble indigenous red grape of Mount Etna
- Alcohol: 13.5%
- Optimum Drinking: 2022 - 2035
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Tasting Notes
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Color: Pale, ruby red with light tints of garnet
Scent: Ethereal, spicy, with scents of red fruit
Taste and Body: Dry, medium-to-full bodied, reasonably tannic, balanced and persistent - Serving Suggestions: A wine particularly suited for red meats, wild fowl and mature cheese. Serve at 18 - 19° C
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Images
Reviews
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Contrada Monte Serra, Etna Rosso DOC — 2020 – James Suckling – 95 Points
"This has aromas of cherry stones, slate, pine cones, lemon peel and oyster shells. Tightly knit, firm tannins here, framing a wild and racy core of citrus, herbs and berries. Long and refined."
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Contrada Monte Serra, Etna Rosso DOC — 2020 – Wine Spectator – 91 Points
“A lively, medium-bodied red, appealing for the equilibrium and expression, this offers ripe and dried cherry fruit underscored by fresh, loamy earth and accented by crushed pine, licorice snap and floral notes. Chewy finish.”
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Contrada Monte Serra, Etna Rosso DOC — 2020 – Wine Enthusiast – 92 Points
“Medicinal cherry, camphor, cedar and flint float over fuller fruit notes of prune and dried figs on the nose. The palate is still leaning toward figs and plums but with some high tones of hibiscus, cranberries and fresh cherry. Tannins just starting to give in a bit and bouncy acid tie everything together in loose bow.”