Etna Rosso “Arcurìa”
Appellation: Etna Rosso DOC
Type: Red, dry
Varietal: Nerello Mascalese – indigenous to the Etna area
Certified Organic
Wine Details:
Tasting Notes:
Color: Red with garnet highlights.
Bouquet: Dried cherries, sweet herbs and dried flowers.
Taste: In the mouth it is silky with a rich fruit power that confirms the nose.
Alcohol content: 14%
Food Pairings: Bacon dishes, roast pork, baked stuffed sardines, tuna and tomato, barbecued short ribs, swordfish with tomatoes and capers, steak, sweet and sour pork, smoked eggplant, roasted carrots, Thai style eggplant, roasted wild mushrooms, baked pasta dishes, pecorino, caciocavallo (sicilian mozzarella), provolone, fresh ricotta, and gruyere.
Vinyard Notes:
Vineyard Location: All of the fruit comes from an ancient vineyard on the northeast side of Etna, near Passopisciaro, Castiglione di Sicily in the Province of Catania.
Altitude: 600 - 700 meters (1,950 - 2,300 feet) a.s.l.
Soil:Brown, of volcanic origin, rich in skeleton, between sandy loam and sandy francs, with a neutral ph, non-calcareous, rich to very rich in iron and with a high nitrogen content.
Training: Alberello grown espalier.
Vine Density: 6,000 - 10,000 plants per hectare.
Yield: 40 quintals (three/four bunches per plant).
Winemaking Notes:
Harvest: Last week of October.
Fermentation: Traditional in red without the use of selected yeasts, without control of the temperature in truncated conical oak vats, maceration on the skins for 30 to 90 days.
Aging: 24 months in large oak vats with spontaneous development of the malolactic fermentation. The wine is held in bottle at least six months before release.
Production: About 16.000 bottles/year.
Reviews:
2012 Etna Rosso Arcuria – 93 Points – James Suckling (Oct 2014)
"Lots of sweet strawberry character on the nose and palate. Very pure. Full body, soft, silky tannins and a long, intense finish. Loads of flavor but lively and tangy. Drink or hold."
2011 Etna Rosso Quota 600 – “Newcomers to Watch” – Decanter Magazine (May 2014)
2011 Etna Rosso Quota 600 – 93 Points – Robert Parker Wine Advocate (#212 May 2014)
"The 2011 Etna Rosso Quota 600 Contrada Arcuria is a pure expression of Nerello Mascalese from the north side of the volcano at 600 meters above sea level. That magical combination of high altitude and strong Sicilian luminosity is what ripened grapes without lessening aromas or freshness. This is an extremely elegant wine that shows a good use of oak to round out some of the grape's harder edges. Exotic spice, dried cherry, wild mountain herbs and a strong dose of volcanic ash contribute to the bouquet. The 2011 vintage shows an especially vibrant quality of red fruit flavors." ~ M.L.
"Lots of sweet strawberry character on the nose and palate. Very pure. Full body, soft, silky tannins and a long, intense finish. Loads of flavor but lively and tangy. Drink or hold."
2011 Etna Rosso Quota 600 – “Newcomers to Watch” – Decanter Magazine (May 2014)
2011 Etna Rosso Quota 600 – 93 Points – Robert Parker Wine Advocate (#212 May 2014)
"The 2011 Etna Rosso Quota 600 Contrada Arcuria is a pure expression of Nerello Mascalese from the north side of the volcano at 600 meters above sea level. That magical combination of high altitude and strong Sicilian luminosity is what ripened grapes without lessening aromas or freshness. This is an extremely elegant wine that shows a good use of oak to round out some of the grape's harder edges. Exotic spice, dried cherry, wild mountain herbs and a strong dose of volcanic ash contribute to the bouquet. The 2011 vintage shows an especially vibrant quality of red fruit flavors." ~ M.L.