The Barbazzale Etna Rosso is based predominantly on the indigenous Sicilian grape Nerello Mascalese, a dark-skinned variety that grows most commonly on the volcanic slopes of Mt. Etna. This highly regarded variety tends to produce wines that reflect their surroundings, resulting in firm, fresh reds with fruity, herbaceous flavors, excellent minerality and an earthy nuance and an elegance and finesse often compared to that of Pinot Noir. Nerello Cappuccio completes the Etna Rosso blend (as is typical of Etna Rosso DOC wines) lending color and perfume, as well as softening out some of Nerello Mascalese's harder edges. On the nose, the wine entices with aromas of raspberries, blackberries and wildflowers entwined with a touch of minerality. The palate is fresh and aromatic, balanced by good tannins.
Juicy mulberry, blackberry, raspberry, orange and herb notes here, with a medium body and powdery tannins. Fruity and bright. Drink now.
Some nice red-fruit character, but there's a rather simple feel to this. Medium body, lightly firm tannins and a clean finish. Drink now.
The 2019 Etna Rosso Barbazzale keeps you coming back to the glass with a woodland-inspired display of wild berries, lavender, wet stone and undergrowth. It’s soft-textured and fleshy in feel, maintaining balance through a pure display of fresh strawberries laced with sweet spice and florals. Round tannins frame the expression nicely as the Barbazzale tapers off to a dusting of violet candies. This blend of 90% Nerello Mascalese and 10% Nerello Cappuccio is easy to like, showing quite well today, and it is a fantastic bargain.
An Etna red that's rich in primary fruit, this shows brambleberry pie, violet reduction and plum paste. Round and fruity on the medium-bodied palate with silky tannins. Drink now.
Aromas of dried berries, walnuts, dried herbs and spices. Full-bodied, integrated and very fine with ultra-fine tannins. Rich, tight and balanced. A blend of nerello mascalese and nerello cappuccio.
Rich, dense and layered with dark berries, bark and hints of black tea. Full-bodied, round and velvety. Lively acid backbone. All here. Drink now.
Healthy ruby-red. Red plum, licorice and an herbal nuance on the nose. Bright and crisp in the mouth, showing sneaky intensity to the red berry and mineral flavors. Harmonious acidity extends the flavors at the back. Made in the usually bright style of Barbazzale Rosso, this wine finishes with fine-grained tannins and subtle persistence if not mind-boggling complexity. An easygoing everyday table wine with considerable early appeal.
The 2007 Etna Rosso is a gorgeous wine that captures the magic of the Etna. Layers of sweet dark cherries, licorice, menthol and leather flow gracefully from this elegant, beautifully delineated red. There is a clarity and purity to the fruit that is quite striking. Hints of tar and smoke add the final layers of complexity on the finish.
