Passopisciaro Nerello Mascalese Terre Siciliane IGT Contrada C 2023 (750ml) *
Product price
$109.99
Description
Single-contrada bottlings are the language of Etna, where the volcano's northern slopes are parceled into named plots that each speak a little differently. This is Passopisciaro's Contrada C, Nerello Mascalese grown at Chiappemacine in the village of Passopisciaro, on volcanic ground threaded with calcareous limestone. Bottled as Terre Siciliane IGT, the 2023 is medium-bodied and built on the grape's characteristic lift and fine tannin, from a producer moving toward organic certification.
The perfume arrives first: ripe raspberry, rose petal, and a savory edge of fresh herbs, with woodland berries, cedar, and clove filling in behind. On the palate it is bright and tightly wound, cool-toned red and blue fruit wrapped in a mineral, gripping texture, with a saline current that keeps the mouth watering. Tannins are sturdy but sweetly rounded, and the finish tapers off tart and tense, its mineral persistence carrying long. Focused and linear now, it will reward a few years of patience.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Varietal | Nerello Mascalese |
| Producer | Passopisciaro |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
The 2023 Contrada C has expressive notes coming from Chiappemacine, with volcanic and calcareous limestone soils. It lifts with lovely, floral, perfumed notes of ripe raspberries, roses, and savory, fresh herbs. Medium-bodied, it exhibits great expressiveness on the palate, with mouthwatering salinity, a mineral-tinged, gripping texture, and a long finish. Finessed, it has compact intensity and a focused and linear feel, and its mineral persistence is incredible. Drink 2026-2046. Coming from the eponymous village in the north side of Etna, they will be certified organic next year. (Jeb Dunnuck, October 2025)
Tight and bright, with sturdy tannins, saline cherry and blood orange, and a ferrous touch on the finish. From contrada Chiappemacine, at 550 metres above sea level in Passopisciaro. These wines always need a bit of time to show at their best. (Decanter, April 2025)
A mix of spiced cherries, woodland berries, cedar shavings and cloves defines the 2023 Rosso Contrada C. This possesses a core of silken textures and a blend of red and blue fruits, cool-toned and pliant as an air of lavender pastille forms toward the close. It tapers off pleasantly tart and full of tension, with sweet, rounded tannins. (Vinous)