2019 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo

Undeniably elegant and remarkably pretty, the 2019 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo is the understated beauty of the Terre Nere portfolio. An inviting bouquet of dried roses and smoke gives way to crushed cherries, plums and hints of clove. This washes across the palate with the silkiest of textures, ushering in ripe red and hints of blue fruit under an air of violet flowers, lavender and spice. It tapers off persistently, only lightly structured, and with a balanced inner sweetness that combines to create a total sense of harmony. Frankly, it’s hard to put this glass down. This is only the fifth vintage of San Lorenzo from Terre Nere’s parcels in Randazzo, and it is easily the best one yet. The San Lorenzo comes from a rare terroir that exists on a veritable island of deep, ancient Ellittico soils that were spared from the more recent volcanic activity (as in the last few thousand years) on Etna. The 2019 is not to be missed!