Etna, Sicily: Benanti
Website: https://www.benanti.it/en/
Benanti are one of the important wineries in Etna, and modern Etna was kick-started by Dr Giuseppe Benanti, a pharmacist who established a winery called Tenuta di Castiglione on the north side of Mount Etna. He hired Salvo Foti as winemaker. In 1998 he moved the winery to the southeast of Etna and renamed it Benanti. The winery is now run by his sons Salvino and Antonio, and this is one of the few wineries to work in all four subzones of Etna. The wines are classic and fine.
Benanti Etna Bianco 2022 Sicily, Italy
Stony and vivid with nice mineral notes, some mint, a touch of spice and even some cherry and pear. Nice citrus finish. Lovely well balanced Etna white. 93/100
Benanti Contrada Rinazzo Etna Bianco Superiore 2021 Sicily, Italy
This is varietal Carricante vinified in stainless steel. Juicy, mineral and fresh with a stony edge and notes of mint and herbs. Very linear. Fresh and fine. 93/100
Benanti Pietra Marina Etna Bianco Superiore 2019 Sicily, Italy
This spends 24 months on lees. Fresh and taut with lovely mineral notes and a stony edge to the finely spiced fruit. It’s linear, waxy and complex with fine pear and citrus fruit. Lots of detail here. 94/100
Benanti Etna Rosato 2022 Sicily, Italy
Stony, nitty and a bit waxy with some herby notes. Notes of apples, cherries and plums, showing good balance. 90/100
Benanti Etna Rosso 2021 Sicily, Italy
Quite light coloured, this has supple cherries, herbs and fine spices. Mineral with appealing strawberry fruit, finishing with some stony savouriness. 93/100
Benanti Nerello Capuccio Terre Siciliane Rosso 2021 Sicily, Italy
This is interesting. Supple and bright with nice raspberry and cherry fruit, showing a stony edge and a core of elegant sweet berry fruits. Lots of flavour. 94/100
Benanti Contada Dafara Galluzo Etna Rosso 2021 Sicily, Italy
Superb. Elegant red cherries and redcurrants with notes of iodine and crushed rock. Refined but showing firm structure. Such precision here. 96/100
Benanti Contrada Monte Serra Etna Rosso 2021 Sicily, Italy
Floral, elegant and fine, showing sweet cherries, plums and strawberries. Nice concentration and good structure with a delightful mineral core. 95/100
Benanti Contrada Caldera Sottana Etna Rosso 2021 Sicily, Italy
Structured and fine with some fruitiness: strawberry and cherry. But also some serious structure with a touch of sternness. Serious stuff. 95/100
Benanti Serra della Contessa Particella 587 Etna Rosso Riserva 2018 Sicily, Italy
From 100+ year old vines. This spends two years in large barrel and two in stainless steel. Super-elegant but also structured with fine linear red cherry and cranberry fruit, some minerals, and notes of spice and liqourice. 96/100
Benanti Rovitello Particella 341 Etna Rosso Riserva 2018 Sicily, Italy
100+ year old vines. Supple, elegant and structured with wood, wax, leather and iodine as well as red cherry and cranberry fruit. Firm tannins still. A lovely wine. 96/100
UK agent: Woodwinters
Back to main Etna page
