Planeta Etna Rosso 2023

This cuvée comes from the northern slopes of Etna, in eastern Sicily, around Castiglione di Sicilia and Randazzo. Planeta’s vines are rooted in black volcanic soils rich in sand, ash and lava stones, which give the wine a distinctive mineral signature. Planted at high altitude, the vineyards enjoy wide temperature swings between bright days and cool nights. The Mediterranean climate, tempered by altitude and the mountain influences of the volcano, encourages slow ripening and preserves the natural freshness of the Nerello Mascalese.

The grapes are harvested by hand, destemmed and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, with a maceration of about twelve days and regular pump-overs. The wine is then aged for six to eight months in French oak barrels.

This wine reveals notes of red cherry, raspberry and pomegranate, lifted by floral hints of rose and violet. Touches of black pepper, Mediterranean herbs and volcanic stone underline its Etna identity. Oak ageing discreetly adds a whiff of smoked wood. On the palate, the texture is slender and silky, carried by lively acidity, fine tannins and a saline thread. The persistent, fresh finish retains a pleasant mineral and spicy character.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful hedonistic country, home of the Dolce Vita, but how hard it is to understand how its wine is organised! The key to understanding Italy's appellation system is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single uniform one, since each region has its own appellation system. Yet Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavours and styles, as well as bottles full of surprise and creativity. Unfortunately it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most useful and commercially renowned names: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others... But let us talk a little history: winegrowing in Italy goes back to the most distant antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and changed the grape varieties, later calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and some regions already stood out for the excellence of their produce. The Romans also planted many vineyards across Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquests. Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a fairly harsh mountain climate. The plain in the "middle of the boot" has a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. The "south of the boot" enjoys a Mediterranean climate with very hot, very dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a great variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of them native to its land. It is a country just as complex as its wines, and well worth exploring!