Tenuta Delle Terre Nere Etna Red DOC Guardiola, 750ml, Sicily, Italy

The Wine
Where it all began. The first vineyard, the first Tenuta delle Terre Nere wine in 2002, the first Etna Rosso to bring the Contrada back on the label and the first in a Burgundy bottle.
Of all our crus Guardiola is the one with the highest altitude, from 900 to 1000 meters, at the extreme limit of the DOC. And of course, the more you ascend, the more the soil becomes impoverished. And the Guardiola is no exception: lean soils composed mostly of volcanic sand, basaltic rubble and small traces of ash. And equally, of course, as the steepness increases, the terracing, to compensate, shrink.
Viticulture becomes all forcedly manual and singularly difficult. The altitude exacerbates the acidity in the wines, the lean soils accentuate the tannins. Complete maturation becomes essential. The yield per hectare is naturally low.
Over time, we came to know our Guardiola vineyard better and better and its wine has become particularly attractive. Always the most closed and difficult wine, it might be a tiny unbalanced when young, but it still remains a favorite. It might be because of its intensity, like the tension in the release of a spring, or its almost merciless purity; or its austere, rigorous minerality. Possibly because from all of this, a character of great power and originality comes into one.
Of all the crus it is the one that takes the most time to relax and express itself. The backbone loses tension, the tannins soften, the authority and vigor remain. Braised, stewed, rabbit alla cacciatora, hare, finanziera, spit-roasted livers, sausages and beans.
Vineyard & Winemaking
First released vintage: 2002
Production area: contrada Guardiola, township of Castiglione di Sicilia (Catania)
Varietals of grapes: 100% Nerello mascalese
Extension of the vineyard: 1,2 ha
Yield per hectare: 3,5-4,5 tons/ha
Characteristics of the soil: volcanic, mixture of sand, pumice, with little or none ash
Exposure: northern slope of Mount Etna, 900-1000 meters a.s.l.
Average age of the vines: between 90 and 120 years old
Type of cultivation: en goblet and modified en goblet
Harvest: third week of October
Vinification: alcoholic fermentation under controlled temperature (28-30° C)
Aging: spontaneous malolactic fermentation and aging in French oak barriques, tonneaux.
Bottling after 14 months of wood aging and 1 m
Annual production: 3.500 bottles (0,75 l)
Tasting notes
Color: pale ruby with orange hues
Nose: complex, with a balsamic note reminiscent of Mediterranean wild herbs
Flavor: most elegant, steely focus, tannic skeleton, sinewy rather than muscular
2023 Vintage: Impressed with its clarity and detail, a fleshy palate with full body, crisp refreshing acidity and velvety tannins with a slightly dusty yet ripe texture.
The Estate
The estate is located on the northern slopes of Etna, within the hilly belt that extends between Solicchiata and Randazzo, historically the area historically recognized as the finest in the appellation for fine red wines. The estate consists of approximately 45 hectares divided into 29 plots and in nine Contradas (crus).