Profile

Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninfirm
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Oaklarge or old casks

Drinking window

Best 6 to 18 years from vintage.

vintage6 yrs18 yrs20 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, Graphite-Mineral finish

Aroma: dark cherry, dried rose, graphite, volcanic mineral

Palate: cherry-plum, iron mineral, cedar, firm tannins

Il Picciolo is Tascante's prestige single-vineyard Etna Rosso from old Nerello vines in a specific parcel within the Rampante contrada: the estate's most structured and complex expression.

What it pairs with

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 Tascante Il Picciolo

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. Grilled lamb rack with wild herb crust, Wild mushroom and black truffle pasta, Aged Sicilian Caciocavallo Silano DOP. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Il Picciolo was introduced in 2015 as Tascante's prestige expression, from a specific old-vine parcel within the Rampante contrada. The name refers to the stem of the vine (picciolo) - a reference to the estate's focus on individual vine identity in the contrada.

  1. 2015First Il Picciolo vintage; Tascante's prestige single-vineyard tier established

Facts

Producer
Tenuta Tascante (Tasca d'Almerita on Etna) · visiting guide
Grapes
Nerello Mascalese
Classification
Etna Rosso DOC
Oak
24 months in large Slavonian oak botti
ABV
14.0%
Price
€45-70 at retail
Drinking window
6-18 from vintage
First vintage
2015

Frequently asked about Tascante Il Picciolo

What does Tascante Il Picciolo taste like?

On the nose, dark cherry, dried rose, graphite, volcanic mineral. On the palate, cherry-plum, iron mineral, cedar, firm tannins. Structurally medium-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long, graphite-mineral finish. Il Picciolo is Tascante's prestige single-vineyard Etna Rosso from old Nerello vines in a specific parcel within the Rampante contrada: the estate's most structured and complex expression.

When should I drink Tascante Il Picciolo?

Drink 6-18 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Tascante Il Picciolo?

Grilled lamb rack with wild herb crust is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Wild mushroom and black truffle pasta and Aged Sicilian Caciocavallo Silano DOP. Firm tannins and graphite complexity frame the herb-crusted lamb elegantly.

What grapes are in Tascante Il Picciolo?

The blend is Nerello Mascalese. The wine is classified as Etna Rosso DOC.

Tags

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

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