Benanti Contrada Rinazzo Etna Bianco Superiore 2021 DOC
(Sicily, Italy) - [WE 94] [WA 93+] [WS 93] [JS 92] [DM 91]

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: Vineyards in Contrada Rinazzo, on the Eastern slope of Mount Etna within the territory of Milo (CT). The contrada is particularly well-known for its elevation (approximately 800 m a.s.l. / 2,600 ft a.s.l.), abundant luminosity, continuous ventilation and exposure to the sea.

Tasting Notes:

Pale yellow with greenish tints. Intense, rich, moderately fruity, complex scent. Medium-bodied, dry, mineral, with a pleasant high acidity, saline notes, marked aromatic persistence, and aftertaste of anise and almond.

Vineyard Profile:

Appellation: Etna D.O.C. Bianco Superiore

Cultivation: Sustainable

Vine Age: Young vines, head-trained, short-pruned bush vines (“alberello”) grown on small terraces with dry lava-stone walls

Soil: Volcanic sands, rich in minerals, with sub-acid reaction (pH 6.5)

Density: 8,000 vinestocks per hectare (3,239 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 after mid-October, de-stemmed and softly pressed. Fermentation occurs for about 12 days at a controlled temperature in stainless steel, using a specific indigenous yeast selected in the vineyard by Benanti. The wine matures in stainless steel tanks on the fine lees for about 12 months, with frequent stirrings.

Aging: Stainless steel tanks on the fine lees for 12 months, with frequent stirrings. In the bottle for 6 months.

Varietal Composition: Carricante

Alcohol: 12.5%

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Overtones of flowers and spices brighten an otherwise seriously savory nose. The palate stays savory, but the spices linger and work with an emergent lemon streak to create a volcanic minerality even as it delivers a round, full texture before a long, hot finish." - Danielle Callegari (December 2023)

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Delicate and floral on the nose, this bursts on the palate with its expressive notes of pink grapefruit granita, fleur de sel, ripe yellow pear, anise and chopped Marcona almond. Long and creamy on the minerally finish." - Alison Napjus (February 2024)

93+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"This wine is very linear and tight, definitely requiring a few more years of bottle age to flesh out and develop. At this young stage, the Benanti 2021 Etna Bianco Superiore Contrada Rinazzo is focused on citrus, green melon and Granny Smith apple. Give this wine a year or two more in the bottle to develop some of those pretty Carricante tones of flint, crushed stone and yellow rose." Drink 2024-2030. - Monica Larner (June 2023)

92 Points - James Suckling:
"Aromas of green apples and lemon pith with fresh herbs and chalky mineral undertones. Juicy and crisp with a medium body, steady acidity and refreshing, citrusy finish. Lengthy and tense. Drink now." (September 2023)

91 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Etna pioneer Benanti has vineyards on every side of the volcano but its holding in Milo on the eastern slopes is particularly unique as this is the only area that qualifies for the rare Etna Superiore label. Contrada Rinazzo is a steep terraced vineyard at 800m above sea level on ancient lava flows. Light but well balanced, this has a saline, peachy quality with white flowers and touches of nuttiness. Lemon and lanolin complete the finish." Drink 2022-2032. - James Button (April 2022)