Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso San Lorenzo 2021
Tenuta delle Terre Nere
Marc de Grazia's Terre Nere estate produces some of Etna's most expressive contrada wines, and San Lorenzo is a standout: old Nerello Mascalese vines rooted in ancient lava flows deliver a wine of rare transparency. This is not fruit-driven in the obvious sense — it is terroir speaking through fruit. Think Burgundy by way of a volcano.
Nose
Lifted red cherry and crushed wild strawberry with a pronounced floral note of rose petal. Beneath, volcanic mineral and a subtle smoky quality hint at the terroir. Fresh herbs and a whisper of black tea add complexity.
Palate
Elegantly structured with bright cherry fruit and a finely grained tannic backbone. Volcanic soil minerality drives the mid-palate, lending an almost saline, stony quality. Hints of dried herbs, gentle spice, and cedar emerge as the wine opens.
Finish
Long and mineral-driven, with persistent cherry, dried violet, and a chalky grip that pulls you back for another sip.
- Varietal
- Nerello Mascalese
- Blend
- Nerello Mascalese with minor Nerello Cappuccio
- Vineyards
- San Lorenzo contrada, north slope of Mount Etna, 700m+ elevation
- Alcohol
- 14%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
Food Pairing
Wood-fired lamb chops with rosemary and roasted cherry tomatoes
Cultivated from pre-phylloxera Nerello Mascalese vines planted on the north slope of Mount Etna at over 700 meters elevation, this single-contrada bottling from American-born importer-turned-vigneron Marc de Grazia translates volcanic soil directly into the glass.
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