Etna Rosso 'Qubba' Monteleone 2021

The Monteleone winery's Etna Rosso 'Qubba' is astructured and elegant expression of Etna's red wines. In particular, the grapes destined for this label come from the northern slope of the volcano, specifically from the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia, an area considered to be among the best suited in the entire area for Nerello Mascalese.

Monteleone 'Qubba' Etna Rosso is produced from a blend of Nerello Mascalese (90%) and Nerello Cappuccio (10%) grapes, grown in a single vineyard near the Alcantara river. Here, the soils consist of volcanic sand and ash, alternating with small percentages of calcareous clay, while the altitude is 500 metres above sea level. The vineyard, which is 85 years old, is then trained using the traditional Etnean alberello system, which consists of a sapling supported by a chestnut pole. Harvesting is carried out by hand in boxes in the early hours of the morning and is followed by destemming of the bunches and subsequent alcoholic fermentation in small vats, without temperature control. Maceration on the skins lasts about 12 days and malolactic fermentation is also carried out completely. The ageing period takes place in 500 and 700 litre French oak tonneaux, containers in which the wine rests for 12 months before a further one year's rest in the bottle.

The 'Qubba' Etna Rosso Monteleone is garnet red in colour with violet hues. The fine olfactory range opens on fruity and floral scents of violets and berries, soon joined by more complex hints of spices and balsamic and mineral hints. Elegant, rich and enveloping on the palate, tempered by excellent freshness and soft tannins, as well as a slight savouriness that guides the long, savoury finish.