Benanti Serra della Contessa Etna Rosso DOC 2020
Benanti
Serra della Contessa is Benanti's flagship single-vineyard Etna Rosso, sourced from pre-phylloxera Nerello Mascalese vines at 900 meters on the volcano's northern slope. The 2020 vintage captures the tension between volcanic power and Burgundian finesse that makes Etna one of Italy's most compelling regions. This is a wine that will evolve beautifully over the next decade.
Nose
Wild cherry and crushed rose petals lead with immediate elegance. Beneath sits a smoky, volcanic minerality — like warm basalt — intertwined with dried herbs and a whisper of cedar.
Palate
Medium-bodied and tensile. Bright cherry acidity drives the palate while fine tannins provide structure without weight. The volcanic terroir manifests as an iron-tinged minerality that runs through every layer. Late notes of mint and dark berries add complexity.
Finish
Long and savory with lingering rose, cherry, and a persistent mineral salinity.
- Varietal
- Nerello Mascalese
- Blend
- 98% Nerello Mascalese, 2% Nerello Cappuccio
- Vineyards
- Serra della Contessa, Contrada Monte Serra, north slope of Mount Etna, 900m elevation
- Alcohol
- 14%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
Food Pairing
Herb-crusted rack of lamb with roasted root vegetables
Giuseppe Benanti revived his family's century-old Etna vineyards in the 1980s, becoming the pioneer who proved that the volcano's ancient soils could produce world-class wine.
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