Pietradolce Barbagalli Etna Rosso 2016

Drink now through to 2034. Decant two hours before serving.

Pietradolce’s sensational wines are regularly compared to top Burgundy thanks to their ability to capture the true essence of Etna’s unique terroir. Although the winery was only founded in 2005, Pietradolce’s Barbagalli is a true benchmark for top Etna wines and has already been awarded a coveted 100-point score from James Suckling.

The fruit for this iconic wine is carefully selected and hand harvested from 80-100 year old pre-phylloxera vines planted at 950 metres of altitude on Etna’s northern slope. The light sandy soils here are ideally suited to the indigenous Nerello Mascalese grape which is given additional polish and complexity by 20 months of ageing in French oak tonneaux.

The nose is bursting with ripe cherries, plums, and blackberries as well as more savoury notes of dried herbs, violets, tobacco and woodsmoke. The first sip reveals a generous full body accompanied by firm tannins, intense ripe berry flavours and a very long finish with plenty of delicate spice and sweet cherry. The opulent flavour profile makes this an excellent addition to any collector’s cellar or it can also be enjoyed now alongside a prime steak, hearty beef bourguignon, or even barbecued meats.