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TENUTA TASCANTE

SICILY

TENUTA TASCANTE

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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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WINERY LOCATION: Castiglione di Sicilia (Catania province), Sicily
WINE REGIONS: Etna DOC, Sicilia DOC
VINEYARD LAND: 35 acres (14 ha)
FARMING PRACTICES: Sustainable - SOStain Certified
GRAPE VARIETIES: Nerello Mascalese and Carricante with smaller amounts of Nerello Capuccio and Chardonnay
WINE STYLES: Dry white, dry rosé and dry red
TOTAL WINE PRODUCTION: 81,000 bottles (61,000 liters)
YEAR FOUNDED: 2007
OWNER(S): The Tasca Family
WINEMAKER(S): Stefano Masciarelli

WINES

TENUTA TASCANTE "TEFRA" ROSATO ETNA DOC

The name Tefra is derived from the Greek word Tephra, meaning ashes.  The term refers to the explosively erupted, pyroclastic stones and soils from volcanic eruptions found in the vineyards of Mt. Etna.

TENUTA TASCANTE “BUONORA” ETNA DOC

Buonora is Tenuta Tascante’s white wine from Mount Etna’s indigenous Carricante grape variety. Historically prized for its high acidity and abundant productivity, Carricante is a multi-faceted grape that ripens late and gains complexity with aging.  Grapes for the Tenuta Tascante Buonora are sourced from cool-climate vineyards on the north and east faces of the volcano’s slopes.

TENUTA TASCANTE “GHIAIA NERA” ETNA DOC

Ghiaia Nera is Tenuta Tascante’s demonstration of the possibilities for Nerello Mascalese from young vineyards. It shows similar qualities to the old-vine Il Tascante, but with softer tannins and a distinctive freshness. This is enhanced by a lighter touch with oak aging. The name means "black gravel,"  which describes the volcanic soil of the vineyard.

TENUTA TASCANTE CONTRADA PIANODARIO ETNA DOC

Mt Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, is situated on the eastern side of Sicily and is home of some of Italy's most dramatic wine landscapes. The Etna DOC is divided into 132 Contrade, or wine districts, that are distinguished by different volcanic soil formations. Contrada Pianodario is located at 2,400 feet above sea level between the town of Randazzo and Montelaguardia. The nine acres of vineyards are characterized by terraces of dry stone walls with an average slope of 7% and the volcanic soil formations in the vineyards date from 4,000 to 30,000 years ago.  Tenuta Tascante Contrada Pianodario is 100% Nerello Mascalese aged one year in large Slavonian oak cask of 25 hl.

TENUTA TASCANTE CONTRADA RAMPANTE ETNA DOC

Mt Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, is situated on the eastern side of Sicily and is home of some of Italy's most dramatic wine landscapes. The Etna DOC is divided into 132 Contrade, or wine districts.  Each Contrada is characterized by its soil components and the age of the lava formations in the vineyards. Tasca works in four Contrade located on the northern side of Mt. Etna. Contrada Rampante is located between Passopisciaro and Randazzo and is an 11 acre vineyard that has large dry-stone wall terraces at an average slope of 4.7% with volcanic formations that date from 4,000 - 15,000 years ago. Contrada Rampante is 100% Nerello Mascalese aged 12 months in 25 hl Slavonia oak casks.

TENUTA TASCANTE CONTRADA SCIARANUOVA ETNA DOC

Mt Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, is situated on the eastern side of Sicily and is home of some of Italy's most dramatic wine landscapes. The Etna DOC is divided into 132 Contrade, or wine districts, that are distinguished by different volcanic soil formations. The Tasca family works in four Contrade all located on the north side of Mt. Etna. Contrada Sciaranuova is located between Montelaguardia and Passopisciaro and is home to 12 acres of vineyards, planted in 2008, and more than 17 acres of chestnut groves. It is marked by its steep grade of 8.5% with volcanic formations with origins between 4,000 and 40,000 years ago. Tenuta Tascante Contrada Sciaranuova is 100% Nerello Mascalese fermented in stainless steel and aged partly in large Slavonian oak cask and part in French oak barrique.

TENUTA TASCANTE CONTRADA SCIARANUOVA VIGNA VECCHIA ETNA DOC

Mt Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, is situated on the eastern side of Sicily and is home of some of Italy's most dramatic wine landscapes. The Etna DOC is divided into 132 Contrade, or wine districts, that are distinguished by different volcanic soil formations.  Contrada Sciaranuova is located between Montelaguardia and Passopisciaro.  With an area of 35 acres total and 12 acres of vineyards, the volcanic soil formations found in Sciaranuova date back 40,000 years. Tenuta Tascante Contrada Sciaranuova Vigna Vecchia (old vine) is produced from the portion of the vineyards that were planted in 1960. Made from 100% Nerello Mascalese, the wine is aged for one year in large Slavonian oak cask and smaller French oak tonneaux.

LOCATION


WINERY:
Castiglione di Sicilia (Catania province), Sicily

VINEYARD:
Mount Etna, Sicily

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NEWS AND REVIEWS FROM OUR FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY



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93+
JUNE 2021
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Pianodario Etna DOC 2017

The 2017 Contrada Pianodario Etna Rosso opens slowly, focused at first on wild herbs and hints of damp earth. It blossoms with swirling, as a dusty display of dried strawberries and rose hips fills the glass. It’s soft, even fleshy in feel, yet supported by brisk acids and ripe red and black fruits. A coating of fine tannin mounts toward the close, revealing the Pianodario’s youthful poise, all under an air of violet florals and a jolt of tart woodland berries. This is certainly the most structured of Tenuta Tascante’s single vineyards from 2017, but also the most likely to benefit from medium-term cellaring.

91
AUGUST 2019
Tenuta Tascante “Buonora” Etna DOC 2018

"Pale straw-green. Honey, chamomile, eucalyptus, minerals and lemon on the complex nose. Then expresses very good freshness in the mouth nicely lifting the sweet ripe citrus and pomaceous orchard fruit flavors. Finishes long with repeating notes of sweet chamomile and hints of resin"  

91
JUNE 2021
Tenuta Tascante "Tefra" Rosato Etna DOC 2020

A delicate display of white flowers, crushed stone and peach skins wafts up from the 2020 Tefra. This incredibly pretty Nerello Mascalese Rosato pleases all the senses, as silky textures give way to citrus-laced orchard fruits, melon and sweet inner herbal tones. Residual acids linger, maintaining freshness through a finish of salty persistence. Make sure to give the Tefra a little time to unwind in the glass, as it seemed to get better and better each time I revisited it.

91
JUNE 2022
Tenuta Tascante “Buonora” Etna DOC 2021

The 2021 Etna Bianco Buonora is nuanced and savory in the glass, impressing with a mix of yellow apple, dried florals, hints of raw almond and smoke. This is soft-textured with a lovely acid balance that motivates its saline-tinged orchard fruits and hints of sour melon. The Buonora finishes with finesse, both lightly structured and classically dry. This is already so pretty today, but with the potential for short-term cellaring.

94
AUGUST 2022
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Pianodario Etna DOC 2019

A lovely nose of fresh red cherry, rose petal and grated nutmeg. Medium-to full-bodied with zesty acidity and silky tannins. Juicy. Well balanced and bright, with very good length and subtle concentration. Best after 2024.

95+
OCTOBER 2021
Tenuta Tascante Contrada Sciaranuova Vigna Vecchia Etna DOC 2017

Made with fruit from old vines, the Tenuta Tascante 2017 Etna Rosso Contrada Sciaranuova V.V. is powerful and delicate at the same time, and it strikes a careful balance between these two opposing forces. This is one of the biggest compliments you can give to a wine from Etna, one of the most dramatic and violent winemaking panoramas on Earth. This lovely Nerello Mascalese shows aromas of cherry and wild rose with toasted nut, scorched earth and lavender essence. The concentration and staying power from those old vines add considerably to the depth, tannic power and complexity of this age-worthy bottle.

91
NOVEMBER 2020
Tenuta Tascante “Buonora” Etna DOC 2019

Racy and mineral driven, this opens with delicate but enticing scents of white spring blossom, orchard fruit and citrus. The chiseled, tangy palate features ripe pear, green melon and Meyer lemon, while crisp acidity and mineral notes give great energy.                      

92
OCTOBER 2020
Tenuta Tascante “Ghiaia Nera” Etna DOC 2017

Floral and juicy, with typical nerello mascalese flavors of dark plum, cherry, dried thyme and lavender, Ghaia Nera offers a great entry point to Etna Rosso.