Radica Rosso 2023

A cool, taut red wine from Mount Etna. It is carried by a racy acid structure; tannin and oak play no role, and the texture stays silky and smooth. An austere note gives it edge, behind which lies crisp fruit and great drinkability.

The grapes grow near Milo on Mount Etna in Sicily, on black soils of cooled lava, volcanic ash and sand, which give I Vigneri's wines their almost saline freshness. The estate's vineyards reach up to 1200 metres in altitude. Work is done entirely by hand, following the traditional alberello training on Etna chestnut stakes, without wire, iron or concrete posts.

A single-varietal Grenache. The grapes are gently processed in the historic palmento, fermentation proceeds spontaneously with wild yeasts, and Salvo Foti rejects any chemical intervention. Ageing takes place in neutral vessels, in used wooden barrels or concrete tanks. 12.0% vol., dry.

The nose brings together dark fruit and blossom: sweet cherry, blackberry and morello cherry alongside violet, pansy and hibiscus, followed by plum and greengage with an almost almond-like core. Add to that juniper, allspice and pepper, herbal rosemary, mint and eucalyptus, rounded out by notes of undergrowth, brushwood and currant-bush wood. On the palate it feels stony and mineral, resilient yet never overbearing. After the austere moment, the fruit returns, fresh and crisp: sour cherry and redcurrant. The finish belongs to spice and herbs.

A Grenache from Etna, aged without noticeable tannin or oak character, so that its volcanic origin comes through unfiltered in the glass. The alberello training method, which the estate consistently upholds, has been declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.