Frank Cornelissen Munjebel Rosso Terre Siciliane IGT 2022
Frank Cornelissen
Cornelissen's 2022 Munjebel is Etna stripped bare — no sulfur additions, no temperature control, no new oak. The Nerello Mascalese sings with purity, showing how volcanic soil and altitude translate directly into the glass. It's raw, honest, and deeply site-specific. This is wine as geology.
Kit Aromas
Nose
Bright wild cherry and crushed strawberry lead, joined by dried rose petals and a distinctive smoky, volcanic mineral note. There's an earthy, gamey undertone that speaks to the minimal intervention in the cellar.
Palate
Light-bodied but intensely concentrated in flavor. Tart cherry and pomegranate give way to a saline, mineral-driven mid-palate with fine-grained tannins. Violet and dried herb notes appear, along with a whisper of charred wood from the volcanic terroir.
Finish
Long and persistent, with cherry, smoky mineral, and a cleansing acidity that lingers.
- Varietal
- Nerello Mascalese
- Blend
- Nerello Mascalese with small amounts of other indigenous varieties
- Vineyards
- Multiple high-altitude plots on the north slope of Mount Etna (700–1000m elevation) on volcanic soils
- Alcohol
- 13%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
Food Pairing
The wine's earthy, gamey character and fine tannins complement the umami-rich mushrooms and creamy risotto, while its bright cherry acidity cuts through the richness of the dish.
Belgian-born Frank Cornelissen farms high-altitude vineyards on Mount Etna's north slope, fermenting in buried fiberglass-lined amphorae and plastic tanks with zero additions — a radical approach that aims to let the volcanic terroir express itself without mediation.
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