A lot of winemakers look like the place they come from, whether it’s the pin-striped châtelains of Bordeaux or the rustic farmers of the Swartland, and Corrado Maurigi looks as windswept as the volcanic sites he oversees on Mount Etna, his grey hair looking more like a dehydrated bush that has been exposed to the elements, and his wild eyes sparkling like the Mediterranean below. He guided us through his latest releases and we fell hook, line and sinker for this one, a pure Nerello Mascalese from the contrada ‘Sciaranuova' on the northern face of the volcano, where the soil is black from two separate lava flows, one dating from about 4,000 years ago and the other from about 40,000 years ago.

One of the amazing things about the reds from Etna is how featherlight and delicate they are despite the radical place they come from and this example is pale and haunting, with filigree tannins and dainty flavours of red cherry, blood orange, damask rose and struck flint. 13.5% alc. Drink now-2030.

Press reviews:

The Wine Advocate: “the Tenuta Tascante 2019 Etna Rosso Contrada Sciaranuova offers a unique set of aromas over a beautiful, luminous and shiny appearance. The volcanic character of the wine is on full display, and you sense campfire ash, flint, iron ore and wild rose. Sciaranuova is slightly darker (compared to the Contrada Pianodario, but only by a hair), and the aromas veer to the mineral side of the equation. There is also more structure and grit in terms of mouthfeel, which will accompany this wine over its aging trajectory. Drink now-2038.” 95+ points

Decanter: “Located on the northern slopes of Etna, between the hamlets of Montelaguardia and Passopisciaro at around 730 metres, Sciaranuova is a 4.6-hectare vineyard surrounded by chestnut groves. Its black soil is the result of a very old lava flow. The wine is matured mostly in 25 hectolitre Slavonian oak casks, with a small portion in 300 litre French oak tonneaux, for 12 months. Intense and concentrated, it combines creamy, tangy red fruits with vivacious freshness and tension.” 93 points