Rose petals and hibiscus are followed by graphite and flint and then finally strawberries and cranberries on the nose that come out again on the palate, combining with more stony, metallic notes and vibrant acid.
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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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94
OCTOBER 2023
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Pianodario Etna DOC 2019
Rose petals and hibiscus are followed by graphite and flint and then finally strawberries and cranberries on the nose that come out again on the palate, combining with more stony, metallic notes and vibrant acid. 91
JUNE 2021
Tenuta Tascante “Buonora” Etna DOC 2020
Flinty, floral and wickedly fresh, the 2020 Etna Bianco Buonora shows dusty dried flowers, incense, ginger and a balancing note of raw honey. It’s soft-textured and pliant, balanced by an almost salty savoriness, as orchard fruits and herbal tones wash across the palate. Hints of crushed almond and pear linger through the mouthwatering finale as this remarkably pretty Carricante tapers off with tension. A pretty wine and a great value as well. 93
SEPTEMBER 2020
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Sciaranuova Vigna Vecchia Etna DOC 2016
This is one of four new single-contrada wines from Tasca Mount Etna winery, all from Etna’s northern slope. From a section of Contrada Sciaranuova planted in 1960, it’s impressively deep and concentrated, unfolding with flavors of fresh plum and pomegranate laced together by dark, schisty tannins. Scents of roses and violets provide a refined, delicate contrast to the wine’s power. (W&S 4/20) 96
JANUARY 2020
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Rampante Etna DOC 2016
Intense and linear, this vibrant red has intriguing aromas of wild red berry, violet, dark spice, crushed stone and eucalyptus. On the lithe, racy palate, polished tannins and lively acidity frame crunchy red cherry, strawberry compote, orange zest and licorice before a saline finish. Drink 2021–2028. 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. 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. 94+
OCTOBER 2021
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Rampante Etna DOC 2017
There is a lot of aromatic definition to the Tenuta Tascante 2017 Etna Rosso Contrada Rampante. The wine reveals a distinct and unique personality, with a slightly higher degree of natural richness, concentration and textural power, which is due to the warm vintage. The vines are planted in eroded volcanic ash and soils, meaning that they have been broken down into ashy dust and smaller particles over the centuries. The bouquet offers red cassis, wild cherry and toasted fennel seed. It should be interesting to see how this lovely wine progresses over time. NOVEMBER 2022
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Rampante Etna DOC 2019
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