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Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninmedium
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Oaklarge or old casks

Drinking window

Best 3 to 15 years from vintage.

vintage3 yrs15 yrs17 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating above is our own.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryLong, Mineral, Herbal finish

Aroma: cherry, dried herbs, volcanic mineral, light incense

Palate: tart cherry, dried rose, volcanic stone, saline

Calabretta's classic Etna Rosso: the blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio from century-old ungrafted vines, biodynamically farmed and made without additions, produces a wine of honest rustic charm and deep mineral character.

What it pairs with

  • Pasta con la salsiccia siciliana The wine's herb and mineral notes bridge the fennel-spiced Sicilian sausage.More wines for sausages →
  • Grilled lamb chops with capers Mineral acidity and herb complexity complement the lamb naturally.More wines for lamb →
  • Ricotta salata and fresh tomato The wine's freshness and acidity balance the sharp salted ricotta and sweet tomato.More wines for cheese →

With cheese

Piacentinu Ennese Our pick Black pepper and saffron run through Piacentinu's yellow paste. Etna Rosso from Nerello Mascalese is fresh and mineral, with red cherry fruit, fine tannin and high acidity, so it meets the spice without being flattened by it.

How to serve Calabretta Etna Rosso

Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Pasta con la salsiccia siciliana, Grilled lamb chops with capers, Ricotta salata and fresh tomato. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

The Calabretta family has farmed on Etna since 1900. The modern estate Etna Rosso was formalised around 2000 as the fourth generation began marketing under the estate label. The wine is produced from a blend of ungrafted Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio vines, reflecting the traditional mixed-planting approach of pre-modern Etna viticulture.

  1. 1900Estate founded by the Calabretta family on Etna's north slope
  2. 2000Modern estate bottling introduced under the current generation

Facts

Producer
Azienda Vinicola Calabretta · visiting guide
Grapes
Nerello Mascalese (85%), Nerello Cappuccio (15%)
Classification
Etna Rosso DOC
Oak
18 months in large old Slavonian oak botti
ABV
13.0%
Price
€22-35 at retail
Drinking window
3-15 from vintage
First vintage
2000
Biodynamic
Biodynamic Practicing
Organic
ORGANIC CERTIFIED

Frequently asked about Calabretta Etna Rosso

What does Calabretta Etna Rosso taste like?

On the nose, cherry, dried herbs, volcanic mineral, light incense. On the palate, tart cherry, dried rose, volcanic stone, saline. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long, mineral, herbal finish. Calabretta's classic Etna Rosso: the blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio from century-old ungrafted vines, biodynamically farmed and made without additions, produces a wine of honest rustic charm and deep mineral character.

When should I drink Calabretta Etna Rosso?

Drink 3-15 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Calabretta Etna Rosso?

Pasta con la salsiccia siciliana is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Grilled lamb chops with capers and Ricotta salata and fresh tomato. The wine's herb and mineral notes bridge the fennel-spiced Sicilian sausage.

What grapes are in Calabretta Etna Rosso?

The blend is Nerello Mascalese (85%), Nerello Cappuccio (15%). The wine is classified as Etna Rosso DOC.

Tags

biodynamic dry high acid medium body medium tannin medium term mood funky mood rustic nerello cappuccio nerello mascalese occasion dinner party occasion weeknight old vines old world organic pairs with game pairs with pasta red sauce pairs with pork price trade up still red value pick

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