Etna, Sicily: Carranco
Website: https://www.palmentocarranco.com/en/
This is a new project that began in 2018, and it’s a collaboration between Barolo producer Borgogno and Tornatore in Sicily. Six wines are made, totalling 35 000 bottles, from 8 hectares of vineyards, all in the north zone.
Carranco Villa dei Baroni Etna Bianco 2022
This is Carricante fermented in concrete then aged in stainless steel. Full yellow colour. Powerful aromatics of lime, mint and pear. The palate is powerful and minty with nice intense citrus fruit. Really distinctive with nice weight, finishing pithy. 93/100
Carranco Contrada Carranco Etna Bianco 2021
This is Carricante fermented in stainless steel, and then after three days transferred to untoasted new barriques. Lovely weight here with nuts, spice, herbs and mint. Weighty and spicy with fine woody notes. Lively, vivid and intense. 93/100
Carranco Etna Rosso Villa dei Baroni 2020
95% Nerello Mascalese, 5% Nerello Cappuccio, fermented in concrete and then aged in large oak. Supple, fine and spicy with nice detail, and a hint of almond. Raspberry and cherry fruit with nice texture and some stony, nutty detail. Very fine, finishing with smooth tannins. 93/100
Carranco Contrada Carranco Etna Rosso 2020
This is the second vintage. Submerged cap for one month, and then spends a year in big oak. Fine, fresh and expressive. Mineral with stony detail under the raspberry and cherry fruit. Refined with a juicy edge and some warm spice and herb characters. 94/100
Carranco Contrada Carranco Etna Rosso RV 2020
Just 1800 bottles of this made. 100% whole bunch, with the whole clusters and berries layered lasagne style in the vat. Textured and refined with sweet raspberries, cherries and some plums. Has a bit of grip, too. Stony and mineral with ripe strawberry. Very fine with good structure: lovely stuff. 95/100
