2022 Tornatore Etna Rosso DOC, Sicily

A bright, fruity wine with pristine red cherries, a whiff of flowers and smoky aromas. Medium-bodied, it has a crunchy palate with crisp acidity and chalky tannins, a bit drier in the finish. Drink now

92 points jamessuckling.com

From the northern slopes of Mount Etna, this red channels the raw volcanic energy that makes Etna Rosso one of Italy’s most compelling styles. Tornatore farms high altitude vineyards rooted in black lava sand and ancient ash, where Nerello Mascalese ripens slowly under intense sun and cold mountain nights. The extreme environment preserves acidity and aromatic lift while imprinting a smoky, mineral signature that runs through the wine. The focus is transparency rather than power, allowing the volcano to define the character.

Winemaking is restrained, aimed at preserving freshness and fine tannin rather than extracting weight. The result is a wine that feels vivid and lifted, with structure shaped more by mineral tension than by oak.

In the glass it shows a bright ruby with garnet tones. Aromas open with sour cherry, pomegranate and wild strawberry, followed by rose petal, dried herbs, orange peel and a faint smoky ash note. There is a dusty, stony character that feels unmistakably volcanic.

The palate is medium bodied and finely etched, with red berry fruit wrapped in chalky tannins and a bright acid spine that gives length and energy. Flavours echo the nose, cherry, cranberry and savoury herbs, finishing dry with a persistent mineral edge. The texture is silky yet tensile, balancing delicacy with grip.

It pairs beautifully with grilled lamb, pork, mushroom dishes, tomato based pasta and Sicilian cooking with herbs and olive oil. Slightly chilled, it becomes even more vibrant. Drinking well now with air, it will cellar comfortably for six to ten years, gaining earthy and leathery complexity.

This is Etna in a pure voice, fragrant, mineral and alive with volcanic tension.