Produced from vines planted in 2000, this wraps its dark cherry and plum flavors in a lithe texture. Aged for a year in large Slavonian oak casks, the wine shows beautiful freshness and precision. (W&S 4/20)
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Sicily’s star is ascendant in the wine community, and it seems that when anyone looks at Sicily these days, their eyes are immediately drawn to the island’s most prominent topographic feature, the great volcano Mount Etna. Etna wines are almost as hot as the lava inside that peak, metaphorically speaking. Sicily has been well known as a major source of Italian wine forever, but until relatively recently it was viewed as a producer of bulk wines for export or cheap everyday wines. With the revolution in quality that has taken place on the island in the past decade, though, that reputation has been turned on its head, and Sicilian wines are being sought out by wine buyers and consumers—none more so than the wines of Etna.
The Tasca d'Almerita family, one of Sicily's oldest and most esteemed wine families, is now led by seventh generation Alberto Tasca. The family, who has been making wine across Sicily for over 200 years, is a leading producer of Etna wines at its Tenuta Tascante estate (the name is a portmanteau of Tasca and Etna). The estate was founded in 2007 with the purchase of two vineyards in the communes of Castiglione di Sicilia and Randazzo on the north face of the volcano. The northern exposure is a cool-climate area, due to the combination of elevation and less direct sun, which helps to retain acidity in the wines.
The Tasca family currently owns four parcels, located in the contrade of Pianodario and Sciaranova in Randazzo, and Rampante and Grasà in Castiglione. (A contrada is a small subdivision of a commune, based on various defining criteria such as elevation, cultural/historical significance, or the age of past lava flows.) The vineyards are mostly at elevations of 2,450 to 2,600 feet (750–800 meters) on the 11,000-foot mountain. All are certified as sustainable under SOStain, a Sicilian-based program that rates wineries and vineyards based on their impact on the environment, in conjunction with the Italian Ministry of the Environment’s VIVA indicators of sustainability.
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LOCATIONWINERY: Castiglione di Sicilia (Catania province), Sicily VINEYARD: Mount Etna, Sicily VIEW IN GOOGLE MAPS REGION DETAILS |
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92
SEPTEMBER 2020
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Rampante Etna DOC 2016
Produced from vines planted in 2000, this wraps its dark cherry and plum flavors in a lithe texture. Aged for a year in large Slavonian oak casks, the wine shows beautiful freshness and precision. (W&S 4/20) 94
OCTOBER 2023
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Rampante Etna DOC 2019
The nose is fresh and green with aromas of dirt, rocks and barely ripened strawberries. The palate stays energetic and earthy with more red fruit and brooding, savory notes, finishing with the sanguine note of a bitten lip. 93
OCTOBER 2021
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Pianodario Etna DOC 2017
A lovely red for a porcini recipe, the 2017 Etna Rosso Contrada Pianodario reveals a delicate and silky fiber with a fine embroidery of red fruit, cassis, smoke, tar and pressed flowers. The Tasca take on Etna underlines purity and elegance, and there are few extra bells, whistles or other distractions. The wine brings you to the essence of the volcano with some hot-vintage ripeness and roundness. Pianodario is located in Randazzo on the northern side of Etna. 95
AUGUST 2021
Tenuta Tascante “Ghiaia Nera” Etna DOC 2019
Subtle aromas of orange peel, cherries, and dried flowers follow through to a medium body, fine tannins and a refined, subtle finish. Such beauty. So drinkable and fine. 90
MAY 2023
Tenuta Tascante "Tefra" Rosato Etna DOC 2022
The 2022 Rosato Etna Tefra is remarkably pretty with a platinum pink color. It offers a perfumed, floral bouquet. This is energetic on the palate, sizzling with brisk acidity and mineral tones as crunchy orchard fruits cascade throughout. It finishes with medium length and is slightly chewy. A young strawberry and salty flourish slowly fades. 92
AUGUST 2019
Tenuta Tascante “Ghiaia Nera” Etna DOC 2017
"Deep red. Very flinty and pure aromas of red cherry, redcurrants and herbs. Then mineral with juicy acidity and plenty of youthful vibrancy to the floral flavors. A lovely Etna Rosso that finishes long and graceful. Unless memory fails me, this is the best ever Etna Rosso by Tasca d’Almerita at a similar stage of development. Well done." 90
JUNE 2022
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Sciaranuova Etna DOC 2017
DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARD 2022 SILVER MEDAL. Mineral profile on the nose, smoked berries and a hint of fresh strawberry with autumn leaves. Pretty juicy tannins. 92
AUGUST 2022
Tenuta Tascante “Buonora” Etna DOC 2021
This has a fresh nose of sliced green apples, lime zest, fennel and seashells. Bright, zesty and mineral, with a medium body. Linear, vivid and refreshing. Drink now. |