Lovely perfumes of flowers and rose stems to subtle red fruits and oranges follow through to a medium to full body. Tight, focused fruit and tannins lead to a crisp finish. Drink now.
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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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OCTOBER 2024
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Sciaranuova Etna DOC 2020
![]() Lovely perfumes of flowers and rose stems to subtle red fruits and oranges follow through to a medium to full body. Tight, focused fruit and tannins lead to a crisp finish. Drink now. 93
OCTOBER 2024
Tenuta Tascante “Buonora” Etna DOC 2023
![]() This has a purity and focus with dried-apple and pear character as well as stone. Some flint undertones. Medium-bodied, it has tension and a solid core of fruit. Tight and precise. Lovely finish. Drink or hold. 93
OCTOBER 2024
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Rampante Etna DOC 2020
![]() A delicate Etna rosso with red-cherry, orange-peel and floral aromas and flavors. Light tannins and a crisp finish. Vivid. Drink now. 94
MAY 2025
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Sciaranuova Etna DOC 2021
![]() A delicate blend of savory herbs, wet stones and wild strawberries introduces the 2021 Etna Rosso Contrada Sciaranuova. This is lifted and pure in style with nuances of spice and a tactile mineral tinge complicating its pretty red berry fruits. Cool-toned acidity refreshes the senses as grippy tannins linger and the 2021 finishes structured and full of tension, leaving a hint of sour citrus that puckers the cheeks. The Sciaranuova is the most complete wine in this lineup. 94
OCTOBER 2024
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Sciaranuova Etna DOC 2020
![]() Smoky and slightly reduced, this shows licorice, strawberries and cherries. The fruit character is brilliant on the palate with juicy acidity and firm yet ripe tannins, medium body and a good, tight finish. Drink now. 94
FEBRUARY 2025
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Rampante Etna DOC 2019
![]() Mt. Etna rises to 11,000+ feet on the eastern side of Sicily. It is Europe’s largest active volcano and ringed by vineyards which are occasionally damaged by lava flows. Tenuta Tascante was established on Mt. Etna in 2007 by the Tasca d’Almerita family – Sicilian vintners for over 200 years. The 2019 Tascante Contrada Rampante is an elegant, appealing, and complex wine. While it shows the ripeness of the harvest and the sleek and subtle spiciness of oak, the unique style of the Nerello Mascalese grape shows clearly. Layers of delicate raspberry, red plum and cherry fruits are underlain by hints of dried roses, tea leaf and spice. The flavors are elegant and complex, with the delicate fruits enveloped by tea leaf, forest floor and subtle spice nuances. The beautiful, long finish highlights the inherent breadth and complexity of the wine. 93
APRIL 2025
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Sciaranuova Etna Bianco DOC 2022
![]() This is a new submission from Tenuta Tascante. The 2022 Etna Bianco Contrada Sciaranuova reveals a tonic and fresh personality with a citrusy note that follows in step with bitter almond, crushed stone and dried ginger. These vineyards were planted in 2017 at 730 meters in elevation with northern and southern exposures on volcanic soils. The wine is fermented in Slavonian casks (with no malolactic fermentation) and aged in oak for 12 months. 95
APRIL 2025
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Sciaranuova Etna DOC 2020
![]() From vineyards planted in 2008, the Tenuta Tascante 2020 Etna Rosso Contrada Sciaranuova (with 5,500 bottles created) has a ruby shine that seems more luminous in this vintage. The bouquet is subtle, but there is noteworthy complexity here with ashy mineral, pressed violet and cassis. There is also an interesting note of bitter almond that leans directly into a tight tannic backbone. This contrada based in Randazzo sits at 730 meters in elevation and enjoys both northern and southern exposures. The wine ages in 25-hectoliter Slavonian oak casks for 12 months with a small percentage of 300-liter tonneaux as well. |