Passopisciaro Nerello Mascalese Terre Siciliane IGT Contrada R 2023 (750ml) *
Product price
$109.99
Description
Grown on the north side of Etna and bottled as a single-contrada expression, this is Nerello Mascalese from the Rampante zone, released under Passopisciaro's Terre Siciliane IGT label in the 2023 vintage. Nerello grown on the volcano tends toward the pale, perfumed, and mineral, closer in spirit to a mountain red than to anything you might expect from Sicily's warmer lowlands. The fruit comes from the village of Rampante, and the estate is moving toward organic certification.
The color is bright and light, and the nose leans elegant: pomegranate and red berries, rose petals, a whiff of crushed stone. There is dusty earth here too, and as the wine sits in the glass it opens toward citrus-lifted cherry and something faintly saline. The palate is rounder and creamier than the aromatics suggest, with ripe darker fruit, licorice, and a lick of spice, all framed by chalky, finely grained tannins that grip through a long, savory, pleasantly bitter finish. Young and tightly wound now, it will reward some patience in the cellar.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Varietal | Nerello Mascalese |
| Producer | Passopisciaro |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
Coming from Rampante and pouring a bright red hue, the 2023 Contrada R leads with pomegranate as its elegant perfume floats from the glass with roses, red berries, and crushed stones. On the palate, it reveals dusty earth, refined but chalky tannins, a good amount of grip, and a lovely, savory finish. This is another gorgeous wine in this vintage from Passopisciaro. Drink 2025-2045. Coming from the eponymous village in the north side of Etna, they will be certified organic next year. (Jeb Dunnuck, October 2025)
The 2023 Rosso Contrada R evolves in the glass, youthfully tight and complex, with dusty earth and rose tones that open the stage for citrus-inflected cherries and nuances of wet stones. This envelops the palate with soothingly round, creamy textures as ripe blackberries mix with exotic spice and licorice notes throughout. The 2023 finishes long and quite spicy, leaving a pleasantly bitter tinge and grippy tannins to linger on. Give the R time in the cellar to soften its contours. I'm optimistic about its future. (Vinous)