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Structure
Drinking window
Best 5 to 20 years from vintage.
vintage5 yrs20 yrs22 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 in the header is our own.
In the glass
Aroma: wild cherry, dried rose, incense, volcanic mineral
Palate: tart cherry, iron, charcoal, fine dry tannins
Vigne Vecchie (old vines) showcases the depth of Calabretta's ungrafted Nerello: light in colour but profound in mineral detail, with the incense-and-iron character of century-old Etna vines.
What it pairs with
-
Slow-cooked Sicilian rabbit alla cacciatora
The wine's savoury mineral depth and fine tannins complement the rustic hunter's stew. -
Braised pork cheeks with capers and olives
Iron-mineral notes and cherry-herb complexity pair beautifully with braised pork. -
Aged Caciocavallo Silano DOP
The wine's savoury mineral character matches the mild smokiness of aged Caciocavallo.
How to serve Calabretta Vigne Vecchie
Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Slow-cooked Sicilian rabbit alla cacciatora, Braised pork cheeks with capers and olives, Aged Caciocavallo Silano DOP. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Vigne Vecchie represents the best of Calabretta's ungrafted Nerello Mascalese planted before phylloxera arrived on Etna. The fourth-generation estate farms 12.5 hectares using only copper and sulphur, and the wine is produced without fining or filtration, embodying the philosophy of minimal intervention that the estate has practised for over a century.
- 2004: First Vigne Vecchie vintage released in the modern era
Facts
- Producer
- Azienda Vinicola Calabretta · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Nerello Mascalese
- Classification
- Etna Rosso DOC
- Oak
- 24 months in large old Slavonian oak botti (no new oak)
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- €28-45 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5-20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2004
- Biodynamic
- Biodynamic Practicing
- Organic
- ORGANIC CERTIFIED
Frequently asked about Calabretta Vigne Vecchie
What does Calabretta Vigne Vecchie taste like?
On the nose, wild cherry, dried rose, incense, volcanic mineral. On the palate, tart cherry, iron, charcoal, fine dry tannins. Structurally medium-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long, mineral, savoury finish. Vigne Vecchie (old vines) showcases the depth of Calabretta's ungrafted Nerello: light in colour but profound in mineral detail, with the incense-and-iron character of century-old Etna vines.
When should I drink Calabretta Vigne Vecchie?
Drink 5-20 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Calabretta Vigne Vecchie?
Slow-cooked Sicilian rabbit alla cacciatora is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Braised pork cheeks with capers and olives and Aged Caciocavallo Silano DOP. The wine's savoury mineral depth and fine tannins complement the rustic hunter's stew.
What grapes are in Calabretta Vigne Vecchie?
The blend is Nerello Mascalese. The wine is classified as Etna Rosso DOC.
Tags
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