2023 Graci Etna Bianco, Mt Etna

Vivid and delicious, this has plenty of sliced apples and pears, white flowers and hints of salt and minerals. Medium- to full-bodied, it has balanced fruit, touches of flint and a pretty finish. Drink now.

93 points jamessuckling.com

Graci Etna Bianco is a luminous, mineral-charged white wine from the slopes of Mount Etna, Sicily’s legendary volcano. Crafted from organically grown Carricante grapes, this wine reflects the energy and volcanic purity of its high-altitude origins. Graci is one of the key names in the Etna renaissance, and this Etna Bianco offers an elegant, focused expression of both grape and terroir without artifice or excess.

The fruit is sourced from vineyards on the cooler, north-facing slopes of Mt Etna at elevations ranging from 600 to 1,000 metres above sea level. Soils are composed of decomposed lava, ash and sand, which contribute to the wine’s striking minerality and tension. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel using indigenous yeasts, followed by several months of lees contact to build mouthfeel and complexity without losing vibrancy.

The nose is clean and restrained at first, then opens with notes of lemon peel, white peach, crushed rocks, chamomile and wild herbs. The palate is crisp and linear, with flavours of citrus, green apple, sea salt and flint. There’s a mouthwatering acid spine and a saline, chalky finish that lingers with elegance and precision.

Food pairing: ideal with grilled calamari, raw oysters, Sicilian-style swordfish, lemon chicken, or creamy seafood pasta. Also excellent with burrata, herbed goat cheese or simple grilled vegetables.

Cellar potential: beautiful young for its clarity and freshness, but will evolve gracefully over 5 to 7 years, gaining honeyed and savoury nuances with time.