2006 Terre Nere, Etna Rosso, Feudo di Mezzo, Il Quadro delle Rose (RT95) The medium ruby-shaded garnet now at age 18+ has aged magnificently and reveals the magic of cellaring your Etna Rosso’s. Medium Garnet with a ruby core, this gem expresses supple, soft notes of Marasca cherry liqueur, strawberry compote, slightly damp sous bois, dried herbs, volcanic ash and a dominant vein of minerality that provides a firm overlay for the entire picture to resonate from. The palate is elegant and refined, revealing sophistication sans rusticity, the acids have softened and have blended in, yet they maintain the wine’s freshness, while the oak aging if deftly seamless on the soft tannic finish. This has morphed in an articulate, gentle giant. Drink now-2031+ Tasted April 2025
Terre Nere’s plots in the Feudo di Mezzo Cru are a small part of what is perhaps the largest single vineyard of the Etna DOC. The cru (locally known as Contradas) is large enough to contain varied soil types, producing diverse expressions of its terroir. The finest plots, which are expressed in the Quadro delle Rose bottling, reveal the magnificence of this cru. These plots are located in the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia and this bottling is 100% Nerello Mascalese with no Cappuccio blended in. Total size of Terre Nere’s plots is about 3 acres, and the soils are a combination of deep volcanic flows with a high content of ash. The vineyard is positioned on the north slopes of Etna at the relatively high elevation of 2000 feet. Age of these vines is 60 to 80 years and the total production for this bottling is generous at 5,500 bottles. This wine is crafted in classic Terre Nere style utilizing hand picked grapes that are gently pressed and subjected to spontaneous fermentation, then aged for 14 months in a combination of French barrique and tonneaux followed by a short period in stainless prior to bottling.
