2017 Pietradolce Archineri Etna Rosso Sicily 750 ml

Sicilian wunderkind Pietradolce is just 15 years old, but don’t let the winery’s youth fool you. It occupies some of the most coveted property on Mount Etna’s northeastern face, and from it, crafts consistently outstanding wines.

Even one Tre Bicchieri award for a winery this young would put them in the ranks of the up-and-comers—so Pietradolce’s 11 in 15 years is simply astonishing. This is your chance to grab a world-class release from a premier Sicilian producer before everyone else catches on.

Elegant but expressive, this wine shows shades of light reds like Burgundian Pinot Noir, intertwined with its trademark ash and mineral elements. It doesn’t waste a sliver of its 15% ABV, but still shows defined lines and a strong tannin structure for aging. You could say it’s the consummate Nerello—a benchmark for what this native Sicilian grape can do. 

That’s what’s great about Sicilian wines: The best ones are truly inspired top-tier expressions of a particular variety, and they come at awe-inspiring prices. Considering Pietradolce’s near-vertical trajectory, $35 is likely the best price you’ll see for a while.

The 2017 Archineri capitalizes on the best qualities of Pietradolce’s distinguished terroir: It’s complex and warm, featuring ash-like components that weave their way throughout. Initial intonations of ripe cherry and raspberry on the nose give way to dried herbs and smoldering embers. The high-altitude sun and dusty rock lend the wine a complex, spicy mineral palate that lingers on and on. 

Sitting on Europe’s most active volcano has its perks. Years of volcanic activity have quite literally shaped the mountainside, painting streaks of stony, sandy loam. Here, the high altitudes and rich soils nurture thick-skinned Nerello Mascalese grapes that harbor ample tannins and acidity. These features materialize beautifully in the Archineri, alongside prominent minerality, and all without the heft you’ll find in other Italian reds.

A deep respect for these sun-drenched slopes flows through everything Pietradolce does. They tend every vine by hand and strive for minimal human intervention. In short, they trust the land to work its magic, and the land always delivers. By the time fruit emerges from the black volcanic rock, it’s imbued with boundless potential, which is unlocked by a 14-month rest in 500-liter oak casks. 

The grapes’ character all stems from resiliency. Pietradolce’s vines have seen more history than most humans. After surviving the late-1800s phylloxera outbreak that affected vineyards throughout Europe, only small pockets of these survivors remained, making them some of the continent’s rarest vines, and giving their wines more complexity than their younger counterparts. Perched as high as 3,000 feet, they brave battering winds, crumbly soils, and temperature changes throughout the year. 

But you know what they say: When the going gets tough, the tough make wine that will blow you away.