Terre Nere : Etna Rosso Prephylloxera Calderara Sottana 2020

A great Etna red wine produced from pre-phylloxera vines

The estate

Located at between 600 and 1,000 metres of altitude in the heart of Sicily, Tenuta delle Terre Nere is at the top of Italian viticulture. Like an island within an island, the estate enjoys a prime location on the northern slopes of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Today, at the head of more than 45 hectares, Marco de Grazia creates exceptional wines, always with the same philosophy: that of succeeding in producing the best possible grapes in this extreme climate.

The vineyard

The historical emblem of the estate, the Prephylloxera Calderara Sottana 2020 is an Etna wine, stemming from vines that are over 140 years old. These free-standing phylloxera vines represent a surface area of one hectare divided into two separate plots. In 2006, Marco di Grazia, the owner of the estate, decided to vinify these two plots separately in order to highlight the singularity of these pre-phylloxera vines. The Calderara Sottana terroir is stony and sloping, with a soil composed of black basalt and pumice stones. The term "calderara" refers to the warmth that the stones give off on the cold nights that are typical of the region, a subtlety that allows for extremely concentrated grapes.

This terroir owes its particularities to the lava flows that Etna experienced in the past, over 60,000 years ago. On the northern slopes of the vineyard, only three grand crus are made from this "pure elliptical terroir" - Bocca d'Orzo, Calderara Sottona and San Lorenzo. Calderara Sottana is a single plot of land located between 600 and 700 metres above sea level, the vines produce a very low yield of 4 to 5 tons of grapes per hectare. The vines are pruned using the gobelet method.

Winemaking and ageing

Alcoholic fermentation at a controlled temperature of between 28 and 30°C. The wine then underwent malolactic fermentation, followed by ageing in French oak barrels (10% new) for 14 months.

Grape variety

Nerello Mascalese (100%)

Native varietal to Sicily, this black grape promises elegant, powerful wines with round tannins and a pronounced acidity.

Characteristics and tasting tips for Prephylloxera Calderara Sottana 2020 from the Terre Nere estate

Tasting

Colour
This Etna wine has a pale ruby red colour with mahogany highlights.

Nose
Expressing a lovely aromatic richness, the nose unveils notes of ripe red fruit and spices.

Palate
The palate is structured, presenting a full texture on silky tannins with a lovely complexity.

Food and wine pairing

This Italian wine pairs marvellously with red meats and mature cheeses.

To serve

This wine should be tasted at between 18 and 20°C.