Contrada Rinazzo, Etna Bianco DOC Superiore — 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 The tiny municipality of Milo is the only area permitted for wines labeled Etna Bianco Superiore, according to the Etna D.O.C. rules. In this steep vineyard, composed of numerous small terraces with dry lava stone walls overlooking the Ionian Sea, only Carricante is grown.
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Vineyard Profile
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Vines are located in Contrada Rinazzo (Milo village), on the eastern slope of Mt Etna. Young vines, head-trained, shortpruned bush vines (“alberello”) grown on small terraces with dry lava-stone walls. Elevated at 800 meters above sea level, the vineyards benefit from an eastern exposure and the cooling influence of the Ionian Sea just five miles away.
- Appellation: Etna D.O.C. Bianco Superiore
- Location: Sicily
- Cultivation: Sustainable
- Soil: Volcanic sands, rich in minerals, with sub-acid reaction (pH 6.5)
- Density: 8,000 vinestocks per hectare (3,239 vines per acre)
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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 about 12 days at a controlled temperature in stainless steel, 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: The wine matures in stainless steel tanks on the fine lees for about 12 months, with frequent stirrings. Refined in the bottle for 6 months.
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: Carricante
- Alcohol: 12%
- TA: 3.62 g/L
- p H: 6.1
- RS: 1.0 g/L
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Tasting Notes
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The wine color is pale yellow with greenish tints. The scent is intense, rich, delicate, fruity, with hints of orange blossom and ripe apple. The taste and body is 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 Rinazzo, Etna Bianco DOC Superiore — 2022 – Wine Spectator – 92 Points
"A structured white, offering rapier-like acidity tightly meshed with flavors of crunchy white peach, green almond, crushed pine, lemon wax and petrol. There's good tension and focus; this should open nicely with short-term cellaring."
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Contrada Rinazzo, Etna Bianco DOC Superiore — 2022 – Vinous – 93 Points
"A burst of flinty stone and smoke gives way to minty herbs and crushed green apples as the 2022 Etna Bianco Superiore Contrada Rinazzo blossoms in the glass. It washes across the palate with textures of pure silk as saline minerals saturate and citrus-tinged orchard fruits cascade throughout. The 2022 keeps the energy remarkably high, excited by zesty acidity as hints of sour grapefruit curl the tongue throughout the long and youthfully tense finale. The Rinazzo is enjoyable today, but it also possesses a balance that will reward cellaring. Beautifully done."