Benanti
Serra della Contessa Etna Rosso Nerello Blend
Etna, Catania, Sicily, Italy
Pretty oxidized. Guessing a combo of vintage and winemaking?
Pretty oxidized. Guessing a combo of vintage and winemaking?
Feb 18th, 2022
This was such an enjoyable wine with pasta at home. I had bought the 2012 vintage from the cellar door of both single Cuvées, Rovitello and Contessa and had found them light weight and not worth the money but this 2013 Contessa was wonderful and meant that I might seek out Benanti again in the future. This is savoury cherry earthy smoky herbal and mineral but richer more medium bodied on the palate than the elegant 2012. Totally delicious - fruit mineral and earth - a wonderful Etna Rosso.
This was such an enjoyable wine with pasta at home. I had bought the 2012 vintage from the cellar door of both single Cuvées, Rovitello and Contessa and had found them light weight and not worth the money but this 2013 Contessa was wonderful and meant that I might seek out Benanti again in the future. This is savoury cherry earthy smoky herbal and mineral but richer more medium bodied on the palate than the elegant 2012. Totally delicious - fruit mineral and earth - a wonderful Etna Rosso.
Aug 6th, 2021Previous notes apply except for the Brett affected sample a few years ago. This wine is pale Ruby in colour. On the nose and palate an amalgam of cherry, earth and a touch of liquorice. A very lightweight palate - known as the Burgundy of Sicily but this is probably lighter than that. Certainly lighter than the Gevrey Village wine we had later. Enjoyable nonetheless.
Previous notes apply except for the Brett affected sample a few years ago. This wine is pale Ruby in colour. On the nose and palate an amalgam of cherry, earth and a touch of liquorice. A very lightweight palate - known as the Burgundy of Sicily but this is probably lighter than that. Certainly lighter than the Gevrey Village wine we had later. Enjoyable nonetheless.
Apr 30th, 2021Mid to pale ruby in colour with a tawny edge. A shy nose and palate to begin with showing earthiness minerality and savoury cherry. Hint of lavender with time. Ultra fine savoury tannins. Very much an Italian Burgundy - very elegant. Could do with a little more mid palate power. Better than the first bottle of the 6 I bought which showed signs of Brett. Notes previously on Delectable.
Mid to pale ruby in colour with a tawny edge. A shy nose and palate to begin with showing earthiness minerality and savoury cherry. Hint of lavender with time. Ultra fine savoury tannins. Very much an Italian Burgundy - very elegant. Could do with a little more mid palate power. Better than the first bottle of the 6 I bought which showed signs of Brett. Notes previously on Delectable.
Nov 14th, 2018
One of my favorites at the dinner.
One of my favorites at the dinner.
Aug 1st, 2018Initial aromas of wet cardboard indicate the dreaded Brett. Pale to mid crimson in colour. Light spices. When we visited there last October 2 aged samples produced both suffered from Brett - one mildly and the other undrinkable. The 3rd aged sample from 2002 (notes here on Delectable) was brilliant. This is unacceptable for a wine costing over $100AUD. The thing about Brett is it never goes away and only gets worse until it becomes Bandaid and undrinkable. Disappointing.
Initial aromas of wet cardboard indicate the dreaded Brett. Pale to mid crimson in colour. Light spices. When we visited there last October 2 aged samples produced both suffered from Brett - one mildly and the other undrinkable. The 3rd aged sample from 2002 (notes here on Delectable) was brilliant. This is unacceptable for a wine costing over $100AUD. The thing about Brett is it never goes away and only gets worse until it becomes Bandaid and undrinkable. Disappointing.
Feb 21st, 2018
Elegant light red fruit. Rhubarb. Herbs - strawberry. Violet. Mineral.
Elegant light red fruit. Rhubarb. Herbs - strawberry. Violet. Mineral.
Nov 10th, 2017Brilliant aged Etna from the 2002 vintage. Burnt orange notes. Shows the cellaring potential of the Contessa at 15 years. A hypothetical blend of Chambertin and Barbaresco! Glad I bought 6 of the 2012.
Brilliant aged Etna from the 2002 vintage. Burnt orange notes. Shows the cellaring potential of the Contessa at 15 years. A hypothetical blend of Chambertin and Barbaresco! Glad I bought 6 of the 2012.
Oct 17th, 2017The same 80/20 blend of the 2 Nerellos. Floral red fruits. 18 months in 500 litre used French Oak. Ungrafted vines planted in 1912 which we inspected. Could be drunk now as it is barely medium bodied but should be cellared. Very savoury. Enjoyed it and bought 6.
The same 80/20 blend of the 2 Nerellos. Floral red fruits. 18 months in 500 litre used French Oak. Ungrafted vines planted in 1912 which we inspected. Could be drunk now as it is barely medium bodied but should be cellared. Very savoury. Enjoyed it and bought 6.
Oct 11th, 2017
Tasting group headed to Sicily next year. The homework starts.
Tasting group headed to Sicily next year. The homework starts.
1 person found it helpfulJun 18th, 2017