Etna, Sicily: Palmento Constanza
Website: https://www.palmentocostanzo.com/en/
I’m very excited by this producer, currently making some of the best wines on the island. Organic with some biodynamic practices, farming a sizeable 18 hectares in all, across 11 Contrada. They have also restored an old cellar to a very high standard. This includes a lava stone palmento, and the winery is arranged in such a way that all transfers are by gravity. Their restoration has been conservative, preserving as much of the old cellar as possible.
The Constanzo family started this project with the purchase of their first vines in 2010, and 2011 was the first vintage.
THE WINES
Palmento Costanzo Bianco di Sei 2021 Etna, Sicily
90% Cariccante and 10% Catarrato, stainless steel only. Lively, bright and mineral with lovely focus to the citrus fruit. Nice weight and precision here, showing a lively personality. 93/100
Palmento Costanzo Contada Santo Spirito Bianco 2021 Etna, Sicily
90% Catarrato, 10% Carricante; 20% in 5000 litre oak, 80% in stainless steel. Lively, vivid and juicy with a lovely mineral twist to the citrus and pear fruit with a hint of almond. Nice precision with a touch of lime on the finish. 94/100
Palmento Costanzo Contrada Cavalière Bianco 2021 Etna, Sicily
From 1000 m, on sandy soils. Full yellow colour. Wonderful depth on the nose. Mineral, focused and toasty with spice, pear and good acidity. Vivid with nice pear and peach notes with exotic fruit but also some fine mineral qualities. 94/100
Palmento Costanzo Nero de Sei Rosso 2020 Etna, Sicily
90% Nerello Mascalese, 10% Nerello Cappuccio, fermented for 15 days in Austrian tronconic vats and aged for 2 years in large Stockinger ovals. Fine, supple and elegant with nice fine red cherry fruit, some plum, and a silky texture. There’s s stony, mineral finish here with great balance. Very fine. 94/100
Palmento Costanzo Contrada Santo Spirito Rosso 2018 Etna, Sicily
90% Nerello Mascalese, 10% Nerello Cappuccio, from 120 year old vines. Ferment is 20 d in tronconic barrels and then aged in Taransaud wooden egg. Rounded and textural with red cherries, herbs and almonds. Mellow and finely spiced with lovely weight. Fine, expressive and elegant. 95/100
See: the main Etna page
