2014 Nero Ossidiana

The Tenuta di Castellaro is a relatively new estate located on Lipari, the biggest of the Aeolian islands, famous for their production of wines from the Malvasia di Lipari grape. The estate owns vineyards in multiple districts, and one of the biggest of them, Castellaro, gives the estate its name. Within each district, single vineyards (such as Lisca and Maggiore) are used to make specific bottlings. The estate has lavished attention on a little-known but promising local red grape, Corinto Nero, but makes lovely wines from many local varieties. I was extremely impressed by the dry wines of the estate, which is part of the I Vigneri consortium created by winemaking consultant Salvo Foti, who has grouped together 12 estates that share the same winemaking philosophy, beginning with the use of organically grown grapes only.