Vivera - Etna Rosso DOP ‘Martinella’ 2013

Vivera - Etna Rosso DOP ‘Martinella’ 2017 (89 TSW)

Flashback to Sicily en Primeur and the great visit of the Vivera winery. On the picture you can see the Etna Rosso ‘Martinella’ which is a blend of 80% Nerello Mascalese, 20% Nerello Cappuccio, all organically grown.

The grapes rapes are carefully selected and picked by hand usually during the first half of October. Cold maceration followed by fermentation at controlled temperatures for 10 days.
The wine is racked and matures in 225lt French oak barriques for about 2 year, and it is refined in bottle for an additional 16 months before release.
Martinella has proven to evolve beautifully with bottle age adn the release of the most recent vintages has been purposedly delayed to allow the wine to fully develop prior to release.

My tasting notes:

In the glass an intense garnet red color.
On the medium+ nose aroms of red berries, blackberries and cherries with well integrated hints of smoked herbs, tea and vanilla.
On the palate dry, medium+ bodied with nice freshness, medium acidity and fine tannnins. Concentrated black berries, chocolate, graphite and smoky hints and a light spicy aftertaste.

In 2002, the Vivera family finally realized their dream to purchase an estate in the Martinella district of Mount Etna, on the North Eastern side of the volcano, and build a winery there. 
The estate has 45 hectares of vineyards and olive groves divided on three properties: 12 hectares in Martinella at 550-600 meters above sea level are planted to native grape varieties of Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio and Carricante, all organically grown. 
The other wines include grapes sourced from the family’s other property in Corleone, 27 hectares planted to both international varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chardonnay) and local varietals such as Nero d’Avola, Catarratto and Insolia.