2023 Monteleone - Etna Rosso DOC Rumex (750ml)

Sourced from a legacy vineyard on Mount Etna’s northern flank, the 2023 Monteleone Etna Rosso Rumex captures the distinct intensity of century-old, bush-trained Nerello Mascalese vines. Cultivated at 680 meters in the Contrada Pontale Palino zone, the parcel sits within a natural enclosure of hardened lava scoria and has yielded fruit continuously since long before the 1911 eruption. This vintage marks the estate’s switch to independent winemaking operations, giving Benedetto and Giulia Monteleone full control over fermentation, maceration, and final blending without outside intervention.

Harvested by hand at dawn temperatures, the grapes are gently destemmed and transferred to small stainless steel tanks. Fermentation proceeds without mechanical temperature regulation, requiring daily manual punch-downs across a ten-to-twelve-day maceration period to pull balanced color and structure while retaining varietal freshness. The wine opens with a defined smoky aromatic layer that unfurls into crushed red cherry, black licorice, pomegranate, and soft cola tones. A sharp graphite mineral backbone supports a medium build, leaving a crisp, chewy finish that remains drinkable today but gains deeper earthy layers after two to four years of bottle age.

The wine’s savory density and bright acidity align naturally with rich, slow-cooked Mediterranean fare. Serve it alongside braise-lamb shanks, a traditional wild boar ragù, or plates of aged pecorino paired with toasted bread. Backed by repeated Tre Bicchieri recognition from Gambero Rosso, this release demonstrates how high-altitude volcanic soils translate into structured, food-friendly reds without relying on heavy extraction or oak masking.