Tenuta di Passopisciaro - The Contradas 2012

Tenuta di Passopisciaro Contradas 2012

Having Andrea  Franchetti in town to talk through his wines from Sicily is always fascinating. Here we are talking about Nerello Macalese from the slopes of Mount Etna. The work Contrada means “cru” though technically they can’t be referred to as such.

Picked 6/7^th November

Passopisciaro 2012 – Andreas generic wine from Etna, from various different parcels and may include de-classified selections from the Contrada’s. Light colour and delicious fresh raspberry and strawberry fruit. Made in an almost white wine way and it shows. 16/20

Contrada Chiappemacine 2012 –A site near the river. Berry fruit and with some sweetness and fruitness also. Very good but not too defined stylistically. 17/20

Contrada Sciaranuova 2012 – A very high, 850ft site. Quite heady, more full more round, quite a bit of tannin and acidity…good all round really. 17.75/20

Contrada Guardiola – 900 ft up , this is an amphitheatre where the winery sits, deep gravel with 80-100 year old vines. Lovely nose, balance with a good fruit side as well as a very good savoury seriousness. 18/20.

 Contrada Rampante – The very highest site and picked 2 weeks later. More depth than some, red fruit still but generous roundness, a dash of grapefruit acidity. Good. 17.5

I am sure I have a picture but I just can't find it anywhere!!!