Terre Nere San Lorenzo Etna Rosso 2020

98% Nerello Mascalese, 2% Nerello Cappuccio. Proprietor Marc de Grazia is one of the pioneers of the Etna. Not only was he among the first producers to recognize the value of these once-forgotten, ancient terroirs, he also was the first producer to bring attention to the specific qualities of these vineyards by bottling single-parcel Nerellos that have become reference-point wines for the Etna. Terre Nere’s wines all possessed unbelievable freshness and complexity as well as huge perfumes that suggested Pinot Noir. These wines are astonishingly complex and ethereal efforts from the hillsides of Mt. Etna in Sicily. The San Lorenzo comes from 50 to 100-year-old vines that are 700 to 750 meters in elevation on the north slope of Mt. Etna. After fermentation, the wine spends 16-18 months in French oak barrels and tonneaux before one month in steel tanks. For the final product, think of roses and white pepper, and earthy strawberries. Lifted and elegant. A lovely wine that fits perfectly alongside a backyard bbq.