Benanti Contrada Cavaliere Etna Rosso 2021 DOC
(Sicily, Italy) - [WA 94+] [WE 94] [JS 94] [WS 92] [DM 92] [VM 90]

About the Winery:

Winemaking in the Benanti family can be traced back to the late 1800s in Viagrande. This deep-rooted passion for wine is what led Giuseppe Benanti to establish the namesake winery in 1988.

THE WINE:

South-western slope of Mount Etna in Contrada Cavaliere (part of the village of Santa Maria di Licodia), particularly suited for its high elevation and abundant luminosity.

Vineyard Profile

Appellation: Etna D.O.C. Rosso

Location: Sicily

Cultivation: Sustainable

Vine Age: 50 years

Soil: Volcanic sands, rich in minerals, with sub-acid reaction

Exposure: Southwest exposure

Density: 6,500 vinestocks per hectare (2,632 vines per acre)

Vintage Report:

In spring, the rain increased powdery mildew. However, our traditional vineyard cultivation methods kept the bunches intact. The hot and dry summer led to water stress, resulting in the development of sugars and extractive substances in our native vines. The autumn rain did not damage the bunches or their ripening. The precise green pruning and leaf removal kept the bunches healthy without the need for additional treatments. Our 2021 harvest started in September and ended in mid-October. The volcanic activity enriched the soil in Contrada Rinazzo.

Vinification:

Grapes are hand-picked around mid-October and de-stemmed. Fermentation occurs at a controlled temperature in stainless steel vats, with a 21-day long maceration, using a specific indigenous yeast selected in the vineyard by Benanti. The maturation occurs in used tonneaux of French oak for about 12 months and then in stainless steel.

Aging: French oak for 12 months, then in stainless steel. In the bottle for 10 months.

Varietal Composition: Nerello Mascalese

Alcohol: 14.5%

Tasting Notes:

Pale, ruby color. An ethereal, spicy fragrance with scents of red fruit. Dry, medium-to-full-bodied, distinctively tannic, balanced, and persistent taste.

Ratings & Reviews:

94+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"The Benanti 2021 Etna Rosso Contrada Cavaliere is punchy and bright with lots of primary fruit that recalls raspberry and redcurrant with a hint of white pepper. This vintage delivers a very clean and immediate quality of fruit that is crisp, snappy and even crunchy in texture. The winemaking style is focused and very precise. It will be fun to see where this wine goes three to four years from now. Tasted today, you definitely need more bottle age." Drink 2024-2035. - Monica Larner (June 2023)

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"The nose is beachside flora, as wild fruit and herbs grow between the cracks of rocks encrusted with salt. The palate leans into the metallic, savory notes, but cherries, bubbly acid and a latent heat provide balance." - Danielle Callegari (December 2023)

94 Points - James Suckling:
“Fresh flowers with oranges and black cherries as well as blackberries. Very clear aromas. Subtle and complex. Full-bodied but not heavy with solid and structured tannins. Chewy and muscular but remains rather agile.” (August 2023)

92 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A well-spiced red, with minerally hints of iron and tar underscoring macerated cherry and strawberry fruit. Bright and tightly meshed, with a dense core of tannins emerging to firm the fragrant, herb-laced finish. Best from 2026 through 2031." - Alison Napjus (February 2024)

92 Points - Decanter Magazine:
“Dank and earthy at first, with dark fruits and fine tannins, it opens up with some air to reveal intense, bold black cherry, herbs, balsam and spice, balanced by good acidity. This definitely needs time to reveal its secrets.” Drink 2025-2040. - James Button (May 2023)

90 Points - Vinous Media:
"Peppery wild berries, dusty rose and shaved cedar waft up from the 2021 Etna Rosso Contrada Cavaliere. It's soft-textured, juicy and almost nervous in character. A sour tinge contrasts mineral-tinged red fruits and spices. The 2021 finishes structured and long, full of youthful tension, as a tart cranberry crunch lingers." Drink 2025-2031. - Eric Guido (June 2023)