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At 900 meters above sea level, on the northeastern slope of Mount Etna Volcano, stands a stunning winery, the result of a family business also mentioned by "National G...
Profile
Structure
Drinking window
Best 6 to 22 years from vintage.
vintage6 yrs22 yrs24 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
Aroma: dark cherry, incense, chalky mineral, dried flowers
Palate: graphite, dark plum, volcanic stone, dried violets
From the Barbabecchi contrada at higher elevation than Arcuria, this Graci red is the most structured and demanding of the range: dense, chalky, and extraordinarily long-lived.
What it pairs with
- Slow-braised oxtail with tomato and olives The wine's density and firm tannins call for the richest, most gelatinous meat dishes.More wines for beef and red meat →
- Black truffle pasta Chalky mineral depth and incense notes resonate with black truffle's earthiness.More wines for truffles →
- Aged Parmigiano at 30+ months Dense tannins and high acidity balance the crystalline, sharp aged cheese.More wines for aged hard cheese →
With cheese
How to serve Graci Barbabecchi
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-braised oxtail with tomato and olives, Black truffle pasta, Aged Parmigiano at 30+ months. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Barbabecchi is Graci's second single-contrada bottling, added to the range in 2010 from a higher-altitude plot than Arcuria. The site's cooler temperatures and older soils produce a more structured and austere expression, considered by many critics the estate's most age-worthy wine.
- 2010First Barbabecchi vintage, expanding the Graci single-contrada range
Facts
- Producer
- Graci · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Nerello Mascalese
- Classification
- Etna Rosso DOC
- Oak
- 18 months in large Slavonian oak botti
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- €55-85 at retail
- Drinking window
- 6-22 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2010
Frequently asked about Graci Barbabecchi
What does Graci Barbabecchi taste like?
On the nose, dark cherry, incense, chalky mineral, dried flowers. On the palate, graphite, dark plum, volcanic stone, dried violets. Structurally medium-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long, taut mineral finish. From the Barbabecchi contrada at higher elevation than Arcuria, this Graci red is the most structured and demanding of the range: dense, chalky, and extraordinarily long-lived.
When should I drink Graci Barbabecchi?
Drink 6-22 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Graci Barbabecchi?
Slow-braised oxtail with tomato and olives is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Black truffle pasta and Aged Parmigiano at 30+ months. The wine's density and firm tannins call for the richest, most gelatinous meat dishes.
What grapes are in Graci Barbabecchi?
The blend is Nerello Mascalese. The wine is classified as Etna Rosso DOC.
Tags
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