Benanti

2021 Benanti Contrada Rinazzo

Etna DOC Bianco Superiore
Carricante
White wine

Vineyards of Carricante in Contrada Rinazzo, on the Eastern slope of Mount Etna within the territory of Milo (CT). The contrada is particularly well-known for its elevation (approximately 800 m a.s.l. / 2,600 ft a.s.l.), abundant luminosity, continuous ventilation and exposure to the sea.

The young vines are grown with a traditional alberello system and rest against a chestnut pole, with a planting density of about 8,000 plants per hectare and a yield of 6,500 kg/ha. The mountainous climate is humid and rainy and snowy in the colder seasons, with extremely good ventilation and significant changes between day and night temperatures.
The grapes are hand-harvested after mid October. In the cellar, they are de-stemmed and pressed softly. Fermentation takes place at a temperature of about 18°C in stainless steel vats over 12 days, using a specific indigenous Etna yeast that has been selected by our team after many years of research and experimentation in the vineyard and in the cellar. The wine is left to mature in stainless steel on its own fine lees, with frequent stirrings, over 12 months. The wine then ages for another 6 months in the bottle before it is released.

The wine appears straw yellow with bright green reflections. The nose is delicate but intense, rich and generous, with mild fruity notes of orange blossom and ripe apple. The palate is dry, mineral, and harmoniously balanced with a pleasant acidity and an aromatic persistence with hints of anise and almond.