Girolamo Russo Etna Rosso San Lorenzo 2017
- Region
- Italy » Sicilia » Etna DOC
- Type
- red still, dry
- Producer
- Vintage
- 2017
- Grapes
- Nerello Mascalese
- Alcohol
- 14.5
- Sugar
- 1
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Cellar
- not available
San Lorenzo is set outside Randazzo on the lower slopes of the volcano, 700 to 800 meters above sea level. The contrada is named after the cult of St. Lawrence. The wine is a blend of Nerello Mascalese with a tiny bit of Nerello Cappuccio. The 70 to 100 years old vines grow on volcanic (who would guess?) and sandy soils rich in minerals. Spontaneously fermented with indigenous yeasts. Macerated for 15 days and aged for 18 months in used 2600L oak casks. A relatively tiny production, only 4000 bottles yearly.
Ratings
I poured this wine and realised how tired I was. Honestly, this wine was just too much. Emotionally and intellectually. And it seems like many felt the same way. In addition, I didn't decant it. And it was a mistake. In any case, I tried my best to get to the bottom of the glass.
A beautiful bouquet that shows some maturity. Dried cherries, underbrush, leather and tobacco. It has a powerful palate (so again, it's better to aerate it well), but it's juicy and pleasant to drink thanks to the good acidity level and quality of the fruit. Would gladly repeat this bottle. Alas, it seems like it's not available anymore.
About Producer
Making wine on the slopes of Mount Etna is an intensely personal, profound and ongoing act of love.
A friend of mine once said that all people divide into two categories: those who live in Valais and those who want to live there. I have never been there, but I understand this appreciation of the land you live in. And I think the same applies to Etna, at least to some extent. Unlike many, Giuseppe Russo is affiliated with Etna by the right of birth. A graduate of the Humanities with a Diploma in piano, he re-established the family winery in 2005 and dedicated it to the memory of the late father, Girolamo. Their vineyards cover 18 hectares, surrounded by hazelnut and olive groves.
💡 "Fun" fact. The official site states that the vineyards cover 18 hectares. But the technical sheet of a'Rina 2018 talks about 19 hectares. Either a typo or the winery grew a bit. By the way, the Good Wine page says that Giuseppe owns 26 hectares, half of which he sells.