2004 Benanti, Etna Rosso, Serra della Contessa (RT 94) I’ve got a few bottles of this scattered through my cellar and stumbled onto to one when I was reorganizing a few cases last week. When push came to shove I pulled the cork, BAM! SO’d for the day, it burst from the glass with bright, fresh, clean notes of maraschino cherry, white flowers, anise and volcanic ash which lent an element of structure to the bouquet. The palate is equally fresh and vivid, showing stunning balance that centers on its vibrant persistence with beautiful fruit concentration, fine grained sophisticated tannin, and upbeat acidity that keeps every sip fresh and entertaining. An impressive and beautiful showing for this Nerello Mascalese/Nerello Cappuccio blend, crafted from 100+ year old vines. Benanti is one of the old guard Mount Etna producers and they craft highly reliable wines. This is very close to its tertiary peak drinking window. Recommended! Drink now-2030+ Current vintages (2012, 2013) range from $45-65.
