2022 Ciro Biondi Etna Rosso Outis

WINEMAKER: Ciro Biondi
REGION: Sicily, IT
VARIETY: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio
VITICULTURE: Organic

Biondi’s Outis Rosso is made of Nerello Mascalese, with the permitted addition of up to 20% Nerello Cappuccio, of which Ciro Biondi takes full advantage. This is the most elegant wine I have tasted from Sicily, and one of the best; it shows an almost Burgundian combination of finesse and substance, leaving a wonderful lingering impression on the palate. The wine shows no overt oak, only excellent, clean and balanced winemaking. A light-medium red Pinot-like color in the glass. Shows aromas of red and black fruits, with balsamic hints. Medium weight on the palate but very flavorful, with a long on the finish and excellent balance. This wine has far more weight and complexity than you'd expect from the relatively pale color (as is true of Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo, of course).

"The reputation of the wines of Mount Etna, the enormous active volcano that dominates the north-eastern corner of Sicily, has shot up in the last few years. It is now known as one of the best wine-producing areas in Italy; I think correctly. Ciro Biondi's family has owned vineyards in this area since at least 1800, and first sold bottled wine under their label a century ago; the modern iteration of the Biondi winery started in 1999. Ciro (an architect by training) and his wife Stef own three vineyards near the small town of Trecastagni, and have reworked an old palmento in one of their vineyards as a winery. Barrel storage is in the little old cellar of the family house in the center of Trecastagni." - Andrew Guard