Score: 91/100
This Etna Bianco DOC white wine is made in one of Piccini’s estates in Sicily, on the slopes of Mount Etna, the 10,920ft (3330m) active volcano that dominates the north-eastern corner of this island in the South of Italy.
It is a blend of local Italian white grapes varieties: 90% Carricante and 10% Catarratto.
Learn more about Carricante with our 5 Top Grapes Behind Italian White Wines
Tasting Notes
This white wine from the slopes of Mount Etna comes in a bright and vivid lemon-yellow color, with some golden hues intensifying its appearance. Looking quite intense overall.
The nose is also quite pungent, with vibrant ripe lemon aromas bursting to your senses. They come with what appears like a wealth of vanilla and hazelnut, somewhat oaky although very elegantly so.
Touches of honey wax and vegetal olive oil add complexity to the aromatic profile. Add leesy notes of brioche and sour dough for the almost-complete picture of this Bianco’s charming and layered nose.
Put the wine in your mouth, and it reveals itself to be quite concentrated, with an oily texture and solid body for a white, but also a crisp citrusy acidity. The ripe lemon aromas detected on the nose transform on the palate into an explosion of limy lemon flavors brought out by a certain alcohol warmth of the wine making it feel powerful and rich.
The tension from the acidity never stops from the zesty first impression to a mineral finish. There is somewhat of a lemon juice feel to this wine. Perhaps more like a Mojito cocktail in fact, from the alcoholic warmth and there are elements of peppermint flavor in there as well.
The sour dough brioche, oaky and slightly smoky vanilla notes, confirm we are indeed drinking a zesty and enjoyable, concentrated and powerfully scented white wine.
The long and layered finish reveals many sweet spices, white pepper, fennel, gooseberry, and more… as further confirmation that we are here with a serious dry white wine. One for gastronomy, to pair with creamy seafood dishes and rich yet delicate cheeses.
Oh… can I let my imagination run free, and project myself enjoying tasty shellfish dishes and creamy goat cheese in Sicily, while tasting this wine. It’s not hard to imagine how this Etna Bianco would, under those circumstances (or similarly enjoyable), be an absolute delight.
Small drinking tip: some whites are better a little on the warmer side of serving white wines, allowing to bring out more their natural flavors and complexity. I find this one works best a little chilled. The lower temperature exacerbates enjoyably its lemon fruity freshness, and contains its rich and oily texture. Learn more about wine serving temperatures at …(fill in with post title).
Enjoy 🙂
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