2021 Alberelli di Giodo

Closed with a red wax capsule, the Alberelli di Giodo 2021 Nerello Mascalese does a great job of transmitting energy, finesse and elegance. This is an exceptional expression of Etna's protagonist grape. It effortlessly shows small berry aromas of cassis and wild berry along with some dried herb, mountain flower, orange peel and crushed stone. Carlo Ferrini has hit this nail squarely on the head.

Named after the training system in Etna, the 2021 Nerello Mascalese is from old vines on the north side of Etna and has a wonderful vibrancy in the glass on opening, with a delicate smoky note on the nose of ripe cherries and rosy perfume. It’s snappy on the palate with a leaner texture, although it has good length and a lovely citrus-tapered finish with a great snappy feel. Drink it over the next 8-10 years. I tasted these wines at Giodo in Montalcino. Alberelli Di Giodo is the estate’s sister winery in Sicily, housed on the north side of Mount Etna.

Translucent red with a deep ruby core. This has more kick than many Etna wines, a little more grip, still oh so juicy and full of minerality, salinity, pummice stone, redcurrant, mandarin, saline cracker, oyster shell and vivid fresh fruits that are so distinctive to this location. Both super dry and yet super fruity at the same time, with clear acidities that give definition and lift. This is tingling, exciting, juicy, clings on and just subtly demands you to take another sip. One to share. Carolo Ferrini winemaker. As so often with wines from this part of Sicily, it brings home the much-maligned concept of minerality, and is great value. 80 year old vines, 35hl/h yield, just 7,000 bottles from north facing slopes set at 950m, aged in large 500 and 700l oak casks, then moved into concrete.