Acclaim

EDITORS’ CHOICE “Smooth and seductive, this offers aromas of wild berry, blue flower, dark spice, crushed rock and a whiff of Mediterranean brush. The polished, savory palate doles out juicy Morello cherry, strawberry, star anise and wild herb. Lithe tannins provide seamless support while bright acidity lends balance. Drink 2021–2028.” -Kerin O’Keefe, Wine Enthusiast, Dec. 31, 2018

“Here’s a new wine from Pietradolce that seeks to expand the parameters and potential of age-worthy white wine made on Etna. Most of the whites from the volcano are executed in a purely reductive style with a snappy, steely approach. The 2015 Sant’Andrea (made with pre-phylloxera Carricante vines that are up to 130 years old) offers a soft and oxidized approach instead. This full-bodied wine opens to a saturated, off-gold color. The bouquet is piled high with apricot, dried pineapple, honey and toasted almond. Fruit was selected, cluster by cluster from each vine, and fermented on the skins in a single oak cask. The wine was left to settle naturally and saw 18 months of bottle aging. There is a point of tannic astringency as a result, and you can taste that flavor intensity that comes from extended skin maceration. The finish is structured, dry and almost salty in favor. This wine should continue to evolve and flesh out over the next ten years. Only 1,800 bottles were made.” -Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, Dec. 31, 2018

“Here is a wine I always look forward to tasting. The 2015 Etna Rosso Barbagalli is made with extraordinary pre-phylloxera vines that range up to 120 years old. You definitely taste the rich concentration and focused aromatic intensity that is so unique to old vines. This wine is characterized by the very steady, slow-paced nature of its aromas that unfold with elegance and grace. Small forest berry is followed by licorice, tar and dried violets. To the palate, the wine is very firm, tightly knit and embroidered with lovely little details and nuances. The wine is aged in 700-liter oak casks (lightly toasted) for 20 months. Only 2,500 bottles were released.” -Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, Dec. 31, 2018

“Light notes of ash and pencil shaving open the bouquet of the 2017 Etna Bianco. This vintage does not have the depth or width of previous editions. However, it does show impressive aromatic precision and focus. Dried grass, crushed stone and citrus fruit emerge from the fresh and zesty bouquet. Some 9,000 bottles were produced. You get great value here.” -Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, Dec. 31, 2018

“Showing a pale pink color, the 2017 Etna Rosato is a true beauty. The bouquet virtually flutters with delicate tones of pink rose and lilac, followed by wild raspberry and red currant. The finish is reductive (the wine is made in stainless steel vats), tonic, pristine and salty in flavor. This is definitely my kind of Rosato. Some 8,000 bottles were made.” -Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, Dec. 31, 2018

“Simple and fine, the 2017 Etna Rosso by Pietradolce shows an elegant but approachable personality. You get small-berry aromas with smoke, ash and crushed stone. The mouthfeel is thin and compact, but those small-berry flavors do last. I’d suggest a pairing with thin crust pizza or easy pasta dishes at home. This is a pure expression of Nerello Mascalese aged in large oak casks for three months. Some 15,000 bottles were made.” -Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, Dec. 31, 2018

“This has inviting aromas of wild berry that mingle with whiffs of wet stone and Mediterranean scrub. The full-bodied, polished palate offers Marasca cherry, ground clove, cured meat and a smoky note alongside a hint of iron. Drink through 2023.” -Kerin O’Keefe, Wine Enthusiast, Dec. 31, 2018

“From the glorious island of Salina, the 2016 Hierà pours from the bottle with dark ruby or garnet intensity. The bouquet of this wine is intact with moments of playfully pungent fruit. You get dried cherry skin and blackberry tart with more dark, fruity blackness at the back. However, this vintage appears more fragile and less stable, in my opinion. I would suggest a relatively near-term drinking window to hedge your bets.” -Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, Dec. 31, 2018

“The 2014 Rosso Antonello is a blend of Calabrese, Sangiovese and Corinto Nero, aged in barrique. The wine opens to an inky dark appearance. The bouquet is profoundly Sicilian in character with black fruit followed by eggplant, caper and olive. In the mouth, the wine delivers a lot of pulp and texture. Indeed, it finishes with semi-sweet succulence.” -Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, Dec. 31, 2018

“The 2016 Malvasia Delle Lipari (packaged in a 500-milliliter bottle) is a forthcoming and beautifully intense dessert wine from a small satellite island off the northern coast of Sicily. The wine shows a dark golden color with radiant amber highlights. The bouquet is beautifully opulent and generous with candied orange peel, sweet almond paste, dried apricot and honey. In the mouth, this wine is silky, thick and beautifully rich. This really is something special. Malvasia delle Lipari is never a cloying or overdone dessert wine. Indeed, it is one of Italy’s most elegant dessert wines.” -Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, Dec. 31, 2018