Acclaim

Dark berries, ripe plums, black licorice, charred bark and wet earth on the nose. Full-bodied, intense and deep with a powdery texture to the tannins and plush fruit. Chocolatey and luscious. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

This offers attractive notes of dark fruit, raisins, chocolate and dried flowers. Full-bodied, creamy and velvety with compact tannins and delicious fruit. Restrained and harmonious. Long finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

This pale, floral-scented wine is the most ethereal and linear Etna Rosso among Pietradolce’s current releases. Made with fruit from 90-year-old alberello vines that rise to an altitude of close to 3,000 feet on Etna’s northern slope, the wine’s tangy red-plum fl avors ride on nervy acidity, gaining notes of orange peel and cranberry tea along with hints of white smoke and a pleasant nut-skin savor. “Prettily volcanic” is the way one taster described it, and although it will age well, the wine is irresistible today for its verve and brightness.

Rampante feels more earthbound than the hightoned Santo Spirito; its dense, meaty tannins encase tangy plum and raspberry flavors, releasing them after a few hours in the glass. Those red fruit tones take on a pristine freshness over time, suggesting this will benefit from several years of cellaring.

This is a taut and linear Etna Bianco—carricante from century-old vines on Etna’s eastern slope, near the village of Milo. It opens with scents of yellow flowers and wisps of smoke that accent pure flavors of Meyer lemon and crisp green apple. Lively acidity is seamlessly woven into the bright fruit flavors, propelling them forward into the long, saline finish.

Baked cherries, raspberries and sweet spices on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, rich and juicy, with a sweet and salty character. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.

Strawberries, sliced mushrooms and licorice on the nose. Medium-bodied, juicy and nicely dry, with fine tannins and a fresh finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.

“Deep purple colour. Mellow aromas of violet, vanilla, blue fruit and oak. Then rich and ripe, with juicy acidity lifting the ripe fruit flavours and extending them nicely on the long juicy finish. Very good Barbera showcasing considerable freshness that really stands out on the long back end leaving the palate feeling clean (and in need of more wine!). This had been just bottled when I tasted it (about a month and a half prior to my visit to the winery) and so was still suffering from a little bottle shock with the wood somewhat out of sorts with the rest of the wine, but already then I could tell the wine was an absolute winner. Well done here. Drinking window: 2025-2029.” -Ian D’Agata

“Full-bodied and enveloping, the Santadi 2018 Cannonau Noras has aromas of ripe blueberry, Mediterranean scrub and oak-driven spice. The palate is concentrated but also shows finesse, delivering ripe black cherry, blackberry, espresso and tobacco alongside velvety tannins. Drink through 2028. Abv: 15%” -Kerin O’Keefe November 2023 ©kerinokeefe.com