96 pts Vinous Media
Smoky and ashy in the glass, the 2022 Etna Rosso Contrada Guardiola opens with a burst of ashen stones and grilled herbs, evolving into crushed black cherries and lifted by hints of menthol. It sweeps across the palate with textures of pure silk as a polished wave of red and black fruits swirls around a core of lively acidity. Its structure comes through on the finish as a staining of primary concentration adds a firm grip. Saline minerals linger under an air of inner florals. The 2022 Guardiola was the result of two separate harvests that were about 20 days apart due to rain. This is a wine that contrasts stunning depth with an energetic feel.

100% Nerello Mascalese
Vinification: Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel vats for 15 days
Aging: 18 months aging in large, neutral oak barrels

Vineyard site: Contrada Guardiola is an old vine site planted at between 800-1,000 m (2,600 to 3,300 ft) above sea level, on the edge of a lava flow from Etna’s 1947 eruption. It produces a deep and complex wine with a rich taste of red fruits and smoky mineral nuances. They make this wine from a careful selection of only the oldest nerello mascalese vines, which was first bottled separately beginning in 2011 for this producer.