Pietradolce Etna Rosso "Contrada Rampante" DOC 2021
(Sicily, Italy) - [WA 95] [JD 95] [WE 94] [VM 93] [JS 93]

About the Winery:
Founded by the Faro family in 2005, Pietradolce is based in Solicchiata on Mount Etna's northern slopes. The estate focuses on native grape varieties and old vines, working with volcanic soils and the mountain's cool nights to produce wines with freshness, fragrance, and a distinct sense of place.

About this Wine:
Contrada Rampante is made from 100% Nerello Mascalese grown in a small pre-phylloxera vineyard at approximately 850 meters above sea level. Sandy-loam soils rich in volcanic rock and marked differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures shape this structured expression of Etna Rosso.

Winemaking:
Harvest takes place in the second half of October. After crushing and destemming, the grapes macerate for around 18 days in tulip-shaped raw cement tanks. The wine ages for 14 months in oak barrels, followed by further maturation in bottle.

Tasting Notes & Pairing:
The 2021 combines red and black fruit with savory herbs, spice, and stony mineral character. Fresh acidity supports a firm tannic frame and a persistent finish. Pair with roast lamb, grilled steak, mushroom dishes, or aged cheeses.

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The Pietradolce 2021 Etna Rosso Rampante (with 4,000 bottles made) draws its fruit from a high 800 meters above sea level from ancient pre-phylloxera vines on sandy soils with lots of volcanic rocks and material mixed within. It opens to a medium-dark garnet color and shows special perfumes of dried currant, crushed rose and campfire ember. Like all the wines in this portfolio, you absolutely taste the volcano, its ash, its smoke and its wild side. This mid-weight red has a twofold delivery of cherry sweetness and acidity that makes for an attractive final touch." - Monica Larner (Apr 2025)

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Coming from Rampante, where there are more rocks and a less vigorous site, producing more concentrated grapes and wines, this is reflected in the profile of the 2021 Etna Rosso Rampante wine with its notes of raspberry liqueur, cranberry cocktail, sweet herbs, wet stones, and crushed flowers. You can also see the conditions of the vineyard subtly in the color, which is a shade deeper red. Medium-bodied, it also exhibits more intensity on the palate, featuring ripe tannins and a more angular, powerful structure. I love the intensity and nervous, wound energy this wine has now, and it’s only going to improve with a few more years in the cellar. Drink 2026–2040." - Audrey Frick (Oct 2025)

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"On the nose, black cherries pop above a foundation of damp earth, underbrush, herbs and crushed rocks. An energetic palate brings wild strawberries, Cara cara oranges, licorice, salt and pepper, plus acid that enlivens chewy, toothsome tannins." - Danielle Callegari (Oct 2026)

93 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2021 Etna Rosso Rampante is sweetly spiced with a confectionary bouquet of cedar box, incense and clove that envelops notes of blood orange and black cherry. Soothingly round yet mineral in style, it cascades across the palate with ripe red and black fruits guided by brisk acidity. Youthfully tense and grippy, this leaves a staining of primary concentration and edgy tannins offset by nuances of sour citrus. It's a lively and spry Rampante that is a bit unruly yet enjoyable all the same. (Drink between 2026–2034)" - Eric Guido (May 2025)

93 Points - James Suckling:
"A dark Etna with ripe red cherries and red berries, not too complex but enhanced by smoky minerality. Medium-bodied, this has a juicy palate, crisp acidity and tight, chalky tannins. Well-balanced in the finish with a good licorice aftertaste. Drink or hold." - James Suckling (Jul 2024)