2015 Tenuta delle Terre Nere, Etna Bianco, Calderara Sottana, Sicily, Italy.
The wonderfully brilliant and deep Carricante “Calderara” from Terre Nere is an absolute thrill with gorgeous detail, spice and earthy/mineral layers with exotic fruit and beautiful texture. This Etna Bianco comes from a single plot of vines that were planted in 1956 on the lava based soils which gives a slightly smoky and flinty edge to this wine. The palate is full and mouth feeling without being heavy, showing bright lemon/lime, dried ginger, pineapple and apricot/peach fleshiness along with delicate white flowers, passionfruit and earthy melon. Medium weight and lively throughout this Terre Nere performs exceptionally well from start to finish with sublime focus, the balance between lush and vibrant is spot on and while not cheap it delivers world class style and substance. I think this Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana is the best white I’ve ever had from this winery and I highly recommend it to the volcano freaks out there, and to all that love intriguing whites, drink this fascinating Etna Bianco from 2017 to 2022.
($42 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
