Benanti

2021 Benanti Contrada Cavaliere

Etna DOC Rosso
Nerello Mascalese
Red wine

Vineyard of Nerello Mascalese in Contrada Cavaliere, on the South-western slope of Mount Etna, within the municipality of Santa Maria di Licodia (CT). This area is known for its high elevation (900 m a.s.l. / 2,950 ft a.s.l.), low rainfall rate and abundant luminosity.
The 50-year-old vines are organized in rows and pruned in Guyot, with a density of 6,500 plants per hectare and a yield of 6,000 kg/ha. The mountainous climate is humid but less rainy than in other areas of Etna in the colder season, with good ventilation and very significant temperature changes between day and night.

In the cellar.
Following the manual harvest around mid October, the grapes are fully de-stemmed in the cellar, where fermentation with maceration takes place in stainless steel at a controlled temperature over approximately 21 days, using only indigenous Etna yeasts selected by the winery after a long direct experimentation. The wine matures in French oak tonneaux for 12 months and then in stainless steel and then it spends about 10 months in the bottles before it is released.

In the glass.
The wine has a noble ruby color. On the nose, aromas of red fruit merge with warming herbs and spices. The palate is dry, medium- to full-bodied and structured with ripe tannins and a persistent, harmonious finish.