Passopisciaro Terre Siciliane IGT Franchetti 2023 (750ml) *
Product price
$218.99
Description
An unusual pairing sits behind this bottling from Passopisciaro on the northern slopes of Etna: Petit Verdot, the deep-colored Bordeaux grape, married to Cesanese, a fragrant Italian red more often seen around Lazio. The 2023 comes from terraced vineyards worked by hand with severely limited yields, and it carries the Terre Siciliane IGT designation rather than the Etna Rosso appellation. Aging happened in two stages, six months in barrique with medium toast followed by a year and a half in large Slavonian oak, and the estate is moving toward organic certification.
The color is a vivid magenta-purple, and the perfume layers fresh blueberry and black raspberry over lavender and rosemary, with a whiff of wet stone and citrus-lifted blackberry underneath. It reads full-bodied yet moves lightly, a saline thread running through ripe red and black fruit while zesty acidity keeps everything taut. The tannins are firm and the finish long, trailing licorice and tart wild berry. This is built for the cellar and will reward patience.
Expert Reviews
A blend of Petit Verdot and Cesanese, the 2023 Etna Rosso Franchetti pours a bright magenta/purple color and was aged in barrique for six months with medium toast, and 18 months in large oak Slavonian barrels. In the vineyard, they restrict yields to five bunches per vine with double guyot terraced vineyards that are all hand-picked. It has a layered perfume, with notes of fresh blueberries, black raspberries, and fresh lavender, and it’s packed with Mediterranean savor. It’s full-bodied but keeps light on its feel with saltiness, ripe tannins, and a long finish. Drink 2027-2047. Coming from the eponymous village in the north side of Etna, they will be certified organic next year. (Jeb Dunnuck, October 2025)
The 2023 Franchetti opens with an herbal and spicy bouquet, showcasing its Cesanese component up front. An air of wet stone, rosemary, and citrus-spiked blackberry reaches up from the glass. It displays elegant, silky textures offset by saturating depths of ripe red and black fruit, all guided by a core of zesty acidity. The 2023 tapers off with masses of primary concentration and firm tannins, leaving licorice and tart wild berry tones that tug at the senses. The 2023 will require time to find its footing. I tasted this from tank prior to bottling. (Vinous)