Terra Costantino Contrada Blandano Etna Rosso Riserva DOC 2019 (750ml) *
Product price
$54.99
Description
Grown on the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily, this is a Riserva bottling from Terra Costantino, a red built primarily on Nerello Mascalese, the grape that gives Etna Rosso its pale color and nervy structure. The 2019 vintage carries the Contrada Blandano site designation and the DOC's Riserva status, which calls for extended aging before release. Its later arrival to market has left it in an unusually approachable place for a wine of this kind.
Understated is the word. The nose is dusty and floral, violets and a whisper of lavender lifting over crushed blackberry. On the palate it moves with finesse rather than force, a pure center of fresh red berry and sweet spice held together by bright, driving acidity. Toward the end it turns almost crunchy, closing on silky tannins and a faint note of licorice.
Expert Reviews
Dusty and floral, the 2019 Etna Rosso Riserva Contrada Blandano is an understated beauty. Violet florals and suggestions of lavender accentuate crushed blackberries on the nose. This sweeps across the palate, lifted and finessed, with a pure core of fresh red berry fruits and sweet spices, all guided by a core of brilliant acidity. The 2019 takes on a crunchy sensation toward the close, finishing with silky tannins and just a hint of licorice. The later release of this vintage has given the wine an approachability that I find highly attractive. (Vinous)
100-year-old vines aged for several months in big barrels then several years in bottle have produced this mineral-led white with a round body and rich streaks of pineapple and apricot. Intense and well balanced, it has the bones to evolve nicely. (Decanter, September 2024)