Etna Rosso Piano delle Colombe Girolamo Russo 2021

Etna Rosso San Lorenzo 'Piano delle Colombe' is one of the finest labels from the renowned Etnean producer Girolamo Russo, a pure Nerello Mascalese with acomplex and vibrant soul, made from the grapes of old vines in the San Lorenzo district. This wine is the quintessence of Girolamo Russo's elegant style and the boundless winemaking potential of Europe's highest volcano. Unfortunately, however, it is only produced in very limited quantities. In fact, less than 1,000 bottles per year are bottled of San Lorenzo 'Piano delle Colombe', which contributes to the rarity of this Etna Rosso, a true oenological jewel that lovers of Nerello Mascalese should not miss.

San Lorenzo Girolamo Russo Etna Rosso 'Piano delle Colombe' is made from pure Nerello Mascalese grapes grown in a small plot of land characterised by old vines over 80 years old located in contrada San Lorenzo, in the municipality of Randazzo, on the northern slope of the volcano. Here the vines, bush-trained, benefit as much from the volcanic nature of the soil, rich in sand and minerals, as from the altitude of 750 metres above sea level. Harvesting is carried out by hand while alcoholic fermentation takes place spontaneously in open vats thanks to the sole intervention of indigenous yeasts, with a period of contact with the skins of around 18 days. Malolactic fermentation occurs spontaneously in spring while the ageing phase takes place in a single 500-litre oak tonneau and in a second-passage barrique, for a total duration of 18 months. After at least a further year of resting in the bottle, the wine is finally ready for release.

Girolamo Russo's 'Piano delle Colombe' Etna Rosso San Lorenzo has a light and luminous ruby red colour. The ample and elegant aromatic bouquet offers scents of morello cherry, blood orange, Mediterranean scrub, cinnamon and various spices such as clove and cinnamon. Warm and intense on the palate, endowed with fine tannins and a distinct sapid-mineral timbre.