Energetic Nerello Mascalese - Wine & Spirits Magazine

Wine of the Week

Energetic Nerello Mascalese

by Stephanie Johnson • February 19, 2024

A bird’s-eye view of Tascante vineyards (Photo courtesy of the winery)

The Tasca family has been cultivating wine grapes in Sicily for nearly 200 years, starting with Regaleali in the heart of the island and eventually expanding to five estates spread across the island. They began exploring Mt. Etna’s northern slope in the early 2000s, buying vineyards in four different contrade to create the Tascante estate. Their team spent the next decade studying the soils and learning the characteristics of each plot before releasing four single-contrada wines in 2016, each one highlighting a different aspect of Etna’s terroir. Contrada Rampante’s dark, sandy soils render a powerful expression of nerello mascalese that requires patience, the dense tannins slowly receding to reveal bright red cherry and pomegranate flavors that are lively yet deep, infused with salinity that drives the wine toward an energetic finish.

95

Tasca d’Almerita 2019 Etna Rosso Tenuta Tascante Contrada Rampante

$60

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Stephanie Johnson

is the Italian wine editor at Wine & Spirits magazine.

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TAGS Etna Rosso Italy Wine of the Week

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