The ‘21 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo.

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Tasting note

Tenuta delle Terre Nere's San Lorenzo Etna Rosso is a landmark expression from the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna, one of Italy's most compelling and globally influential wine regions of the past two decades. Made from old vine Nerello Mascalese grown in the San Lorenzo contrada on the volcano's northern slope, the 2021 presents a pale ruby hue that deceives: the wine is structured, mineral, and persistent beyond what its color suggests. The nose opens with a bright, lifted quality of red cherry, ripe raspberry, and candied orange peel, framed by dried summer herbs, red spice, and a faint smokiness that recalls the volcanic soil and underground heat unique to Etna. Dry earth, fine stones, and fresh ground pepper develop with aeration, adding savory dimension to the fruit-forward opening. On the palate, the smooth, silky tannins are admirably present without aggression, and the bright acidity channels the wine's energy into a long, saline, mineral finish. This is Nerello Mascalese at its most expressive: translucent, aromatic, and unmistakably of its volcanic origin. The contrada bottlings from Terre Nere represent single-site transparency at its finest, with San Lorenzo consistently showing among the most refined of the estate's parcel wines.

The 2021 vintage

The 2021 vintage on Mount Etna was marked by a warm, dry summer that produced concentrated fruit while maintaining the high natural acidity that defines the region's wines. Nerello Mascalese on the northern slopes benefited from the excellent diurnal variation that Etna provides even in warmer years, with cool nights preserving the aromatic precision and freshness that distinguish San Lorenzo from wines grown at lower elevations. The vintage produced wines of notable structure and energy, with vivid fruit and a minerality reflective of the volcanic basalt soils that give Etna its global reputation.

About Tenuta delle Terre Nere

Tenuta delle Terre Nere was founded by Marco de Grazia, an American-born Italian wine importer who recognized Etna's extraordinary potential before the region attracted mainstream attention. The estate farms over 25 hectares of old vine Nerello Mascalese across several contrade on the northern flank of the volcano. De Grazia pioneered the contrada bottling concept on Etna, treating each parcel as a distinct terroir expression in the manner of Burgundy's climat system. The estate's wines are consistently among the most transparent and terroir-faithful Etna Rosso expressions available, commanding global attention and collector interest.

From the cellar: pair with

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