Quantico, Etna Rosso 2022

An elegant, mouth-watering red that is based on 90% Nerello Mascalese and 10% Nerello Cappuccio that mostly come from 80-100 year-old vines in Solicchiata. Almost rosé-like in hue, it is utterly true to a varietal character that is based on delicacy rather than intensity. Thought to be a hybrid of Sangiovese and Mantonico Bianco, it’s not surprising that Nerello Mascalese doesn’t yield a powerhouse of a wine. In order to avoid extracting bitterness from the small berries that make up Nerello Mascalese’s grappolo, Pietro di Giovanni gives their red a maceration of ten days, treating the wine more like a white rather than a red. After fermentation in stainless steel, the wine sees a minimum of a year in a combination of multiple passage barrique and tonneaux. Expect a precise, silky palate redolent of ripe cherries with intriguing floral and herbal undertones.