Etna Rosso Riserva 'Saeculare' I Custodi delle Vigne dell'Etna 2016
Winegrower's winesThe 'Saeculare' from I Custodi delle Vigne dell'Etna is a Etna Rosso Reserve without compromises, born from century-old vines located on the northern side of the Sicilian Volcano. Lively, elegant, and capable of great aging, it owes its complexity to the long aging of 24 months in tonneaux, followed by an equal number of months in bottle. Aromatically, it offers intense nuances of ripe red fruits, typical sensations of tobacco, and spicy hints of black pepper. Best appreciated with a platter of well-aged cheeses or classic red meat.
The Etna Rosso Riserva ‘Saeculare’ represents a broad and concentrated interpretation produced by the estate I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna from very old vines that are up to 250 years old. The same Latin name ‘Saeculare’ highlights this distinctive aspect, intending to represent the new generations of vines that blend with the old ones. The plants are then cultivated on terraced lava stone through the traditional Etna alberello system supported by chestnut poles, within the Contrada Feudo di Mezzo located in Castiglione di Sicilia, on the northern slope of the volcano.
The ‘Saeculare’ Etna Rosso Riserva I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna originates from a solid base of Nerello Mascalese (80%), combined with 20% of Nerello Cappuccio and Alicante. The vines, which are up to 250 years old, are trained as alberello on sandy soils with a subacid reaction of volcanic nature, rich in mineral elements. The harvest is done by hand during the first half of October with careful selection of the bunches, which are then destemmed by 80% and crushed. This is followed by spontaneous alcoholic fermentation.of the must in stainless steel tanks with 12 days of maceration on the skins and then the complete development of malolactic fermentation in used 500-liter tonneaux. In the same barrels, the wine ages for about 24 months before bottling and further resting for 2 years in glass.
The Etna Rosso ‘Saeculare’ Riserva from the estate I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna has an intense ruby red color. The aromas range from notes of ripe red fruit and dried medicinal herbs to ethereal memories and complex hints of tobacco, oriental spices, and black pepper. The taste development is elegant, harmonious, and intense, characterized by integrated tannins and a marked savory-mineral signature.