Ayunta Nerello Mascalese Rosso Terre Siciliane IGT 2021

After years entrenched in the wine business in England and the United States, Sicily-born Filippo Mangione finally decided to take the leap into production, spending his life savings in 2011 to purchase a nearly abandoned vineyard planted in the early 1900s in Calderara Sottana (on the slopes of Mt. Etna). Since then, Mangione has grown his holdings to around 2.8 hectares (that’s about seven acres), with several parcels spread around northern Etna, all at about 700 meters in elevation and grown in lapillus (volcanic) soils. Though nerello cappuccio, carricante and cataratto, as well as nearly extinct varieties like minnella bianca and minnella nera, all mingle in his vineyards, his main focus is nerello mascalese, which is showcased in this approachable dark fruited bottling. Grapes were pressed gently with a short carbonic maceration followed by fermentation in a cement vat and aging in bottle. Medium bodied, it opens with familiar blackberry, plum, and fresh and dried fig flavors before introducing a distinct minerality and savory earthen quality. Organically grown, low intervention/natural wine.