Etna Rosso 'Lavico' Duca di Salaparuta 2021

The Nerello Mascalese “Lavico” from the Duca di Salaparuta winery is a red wine from Etna made with pure Nerello Mascalese, the native red grape variety symbol of Mongibello, the great volcano. The wine offers refined elegance, mineral freshness, and delicacy, which have created the reputation of the reds from the extraordinary and unique terroir of this corner of Sicily. A red wine aged for a long time in barriques, it presents a fine and austere face, marked by the typical volcanic character of the soils.

The “Lavico” Nerello Mascalese is produced by Duca di Salaparuta at the Vajasindi estate on the Etna. The vineyards are located on the northeastern slope of the volcano, in the territory of the Alcantara Valley, in the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia, at an altitude between 600 and 800 meters above sea level. The cool and breezy climate and the soils characterized by lands formed from sands and the disintegration of volcanic rocks create a habitat particularly suitable for a grape variety like Nerello Mascalese, which has always dwelled on the slopes of Etna. The vines are cultivated according to the ancient Greek method of alberello with low yields. At the end of manual harvesting, the grapes are destemmed and fermented at controlled temperature, with maceration on the skins for about a week. The wine matures for 12 months in French oak barriques and completes the aging period with 6 months in the bottle.

The Nerello Mascalese “Lavico” red from Duca di Salaparuta is the classic wine of Etna with delicate and subtle aromas. It possesses a strong character and a pleasantly angular personality, typical of the best reds produced on the great volcano. In the glass, it appears ruby red with slight garnet reflections. The aromatic profile opens with floral scents, spicy notes, aromas of small red berries, and light smoky sensations. On the palate, it has a medium structure, with a deep sip, a well-defined tannic texture, and a fresh and mineral finish.