2020 Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana

Terre Nerre’s 2020s are simply off the charts. These are some of the most exciting young wines I've ever tasted from the estate, mixing power and elegance in a way that I find wildly attractive. Marco de Grazia described 2020 as a see-saw vintage with repeated abundant rains and cool weather balanced by warm and dry conditions. The results were an extended harvest and fruit with higher-than-average acidity. That acidity lends the 2020s a more accessible feel, but make no mistake, they have depths of primary fruit and a structure that promises long evolution. Some will drink sooner than others, but all possess serious cellar potential. Two thousand and twenty-one was defined by vast fluctuations in temperature that offset ripening and drought throughout the season. While the grapes achieved physiological ripeness, the thickening of the skins and lack of juice in the berries made achieving balance challenging. That said, most of the wines don’t show it anywhere near as much as I had expected. In some cases, such as Moganazzi and Feudo di Mezzo, their balance falls off through the finish. Otherwise, the portfolio presents aromatic and dazzling wines in fine form, with a distinct sense of place. Terre Nere collectors should not hesitate, especially since production was down a whopping 30%.