Profile

Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninfirm
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Oaklarge or old casks

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

Medium-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryVery Long, Taut And Mineral finish

Aroma: pomegranate, black cherry, chalk dust, dried herbs

Palate: cherry-kirsch, graphite, volcanic stone, cedar

Contrada R Rampante, from the highest-altitude Passopisciaro site at 1,000 metres, produces the most structured and slow-evolving wine of the range: taut, mineral and built for exceptional longevity.

What it pairs with

  • Aged Manchego-style sheep cheese The wine's chalk-mineral dryness and acidity match crystalline aged sheep cheese.More wines for aged hard cheese →
  • Grilled Sicilian lamb with wild herbs High-altitude intensity and firm structure frame the gamey lamb beautifully.More wines for lamb →
  • Venison tartare with volcanic salt The wine's raw mineral power matches the bracing rawness of venison tartare.More wines for venison →

With cheese

Maiorchino Our pick Maiorchino is delicate for a pecorino when young and turns piquant, ageing from about 8 months to as long as 24. Etna Rosso crus bring firm tannin, high acidity and dark cherry depth, the structure for an old, sharp wheel.

How to serve Passopisciaro Contrada R (Rampante)

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. Aged Manchego-style sheep cheese, Grilled Sicilian lamb with wild herbs, Venison tartare with volcanic salt. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Rampante is the highest contrada in the Passopisciaro portfolio, named for the steep volcanic terrain at approximately 1,000 metres altitude. Andrea Franchetti considered it the most challenging to farm and the most rewarding to age, and it commands the highest prices in the contrada series.

  1. 2007First vintage in the inaugural contrada series launch

Facts

Producer
Passopisciaro (Vini Franchetti) · visiting guide
Grapes
Nerello Mascalese
Classification
Sicilia IGT
Oak
15 months in large French oak botti (25-50 hl)
ABV
13.5%
Price
€70-110 at retail
Drinking window
6-22 from vintage
First vintage
2007

Frequently asked about Passopisciaro Contrada R (Rampante)

What does Passopisciaro Contrada R (Rampante) taste like?

On the nose, pomegranate, black cherry, chalk dust, dried herbs. On the palate, cherry-kirsch, graphite, volcanic stone, cedar. Structurally medium-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long, taut and mineral finish. Contrada R Rampante, from the highest-altitude Passopisciaro site at 1,000 metres, produces the most structured and slow-evolving wine of the range: taut, mineral and built for exceptional longevity.

When should I drink Passopisciaro Contrada R (Rampante)?

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 Passopisciaro Contrada R (Rampante)?

Aged Manchego-style sheep cheese is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Grilled Sicilian lamb with wild herbs and Venison tartare with volcanic salt. The wine's chalk-mineral dryness and acidity match crystalline aged sheep cheese.

What grapes are in Passopisciaro Contrada R (Rampante)?

The blend is Nerello Mascalese. The wine is classified as Sicilia IGT.

Tags

cellar worthy dry firm tannin high acid iconic medium body mood bold mood contemplative nerello mascalese occasion cellar occasion gift occasion special old vines old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with game pairs with red meat price premium single vineyard still red

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