2014 Benanti Etna Rosso 750 ml

The “Extraordinary” 2014 Vintage on Mt. Etna and #3 on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100

In December of 2015, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate published its 2014 vintage report on Sicily, awarding a 97-point score —“Extraordinary” by Parker’s rating scale and the highest EVER given to the region. While the Italian mainland had its most challenging growing season in decades, Sicily had a spectacular year. Rain didn’t affect the island like it did the peninsula and a long growing season allowed fruit to mature beautifully without the threat of rot. The perfect balance of sunlight and cloud cover, provided by steady, circular winds from the Mediterranean, allowed grapes to retain vivid coloration and concentration rarely seen from Etna. The top growers took full of advantage, crafting some of the finest reds in all of Italy at just a fraction of the price of those in Tuscany and Piedmont. Such was the case for Benanti.

Giuseppe Benanti started out as a pharmacist, after his father, but it was his grandfather’s calling — winemaking — that finally took root in him. In the 1980s, Benanti teamed up with enologist Salvo Foti to extensively research the patchwork of volcanic soils and microclimates on Mt. Etna (note: Mt. Etna is an ACTIVE volcano). It was very familiar land, as Benanti’s family had been there since 1693, but a brand-new challenge. In 1988, after a careful selection process, Benanti released his first vintage.

The Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio grapes that comprise the 2014 Etna Rosso hail from 40-year-old vines planted in sandy, volcanic mineral-rich soils, 2,300 feet up Mt. Etna. In 2014, significant diurnal temperature swings made for perfect maturation — cool nights kept acidities fresh, while warm, sunny days allowed for optimal phenolic maturity.

Hand-harvested in October, completely de-stemmed before a 21-day maceration, 80% of the juice matured in stainless steel, while the other 20% aged 10 months in French oak, softening and enhancing tannins.

Giuseppe Benanti’s 2014 Etna Rosso is vivid ruby-red, with crushed flowers and red berries emerging from the glass. Concentrated and suave on the attack, with juicy black cherries, raspberry compote, cinnamon, and white pepper. Beautifully layered, framed by firm tannins and laser-like acidity. Weightless yet substantial, reminiscent of Vosne-Romanée.

As we watched WineAccess members gobble up our entire 50-case allocation last August, we pleaded with Benanti to carve out whatever else we could get our hands on.  Months later, over a few Negronis and some arm-squeezing with our importer, we finally got what we wanted, but were cautioned to act fast. Before Wine Enthusiast publishes its annual Top 100, we’ve been notified that 2014 Benanti Etna Rosso will take the #3 spot. The last 100 cases will hit port soon. 25 have been earmarked for WineAccess before the rest of the U.S. allocation evaporates. $21/bottle. Shipping included on 6 or more.  LAST CALL!