2022 Girolamo Russo - Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana (750ml)

The 2022 Girolamo Russo Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana channels seventy-year-old Nerello vines into a refined, high-altitude expression that balances Sicilian volcanic minerality with Burgundian restraint. Cultivated near Randazzo at 700 meters across two ancient lava flows, the vineyard rests on a sandier volcanic subsoil that accelerates drainage and stretches the ripening window. Giuseppe Russo harvests these 94 percent Nerello Mascalese and six percent Nerello Cappuccio berries exclusively for native yeast fermentation, then matures the wine for eighteen months in neutral French tonneaux before holding it a minimum of six months in glass prior to release.

Tasting Notes: This cru reads as among the lightest and most aromatic in the estate’s portfolio. The bouquet opens with crushed wild strawberries, dried thyme, cracked black pepper, and anise. Fine-grained tannins support a medium-bodied frame of bright red fruit and wet stone, delivering a persistent, polished finish that reviewers frequently compare to cool-climate Pinot Noir.

Suggested Pairings: The wine’s moderate weight, gentle structure, and brisk acidity integrate smoothly with herb-roasted poultry, cured meat flights alongside aged Pecorino, or deeply savory mushroom-centric dishes like wild porcini pasta and braised radicchio. Its savory spice thread enhances umami-rich ingredients without overwhelming them.