Girolamo Russo : Etna Rosso 'a Rina 2024

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Etna Rosso "'a Rina" 2024 Girolamo Russo

Tasting

Color
A clear ruby red hue appears in the glass, accented with garnet reflections. Its moderately intense color shines with transparency and luminosity.

Nose
Complex and expressive, the nose opens with aromas of tart cherry and pomegranate, underscored by dried herbs and a smoky minerality typical of its volcanic terroir. With aeration, it reveals notes of undergrowth, mushrooms and umami, enriched with hints of stewed fruit, pepper, leather, tobacco and delicate floral nuances reminiscent of lavender and rose.

Palate
The attack is fresh and complex, offering a perfectly balanced medium body. The palate stands out for its supple, velvety tannins, supported by a lively acidity that brings tension and freshness. The silky texture coats the palate through to a lingering finish, marked by a ferrous minerality and a hint of salinity.

Food and wine pairing
This red wine pairs wonderfully with flavorful meats such as herb-grilled lamb, as well as with meaty fish like tuna or swordfish. It enhances mushroom-based dishes, such as a porcini risotto, as well as Sicilian specialties like the famous Pasta alla Norma or a caponata.

Service and storage
Approachable even in its youth thanks to the purity of its aromas, this Etna Rosso "'a Rina" 2024 can also be cellared to evolve favorably until at least 2034.

The elegance and volcanic minerality of a red wine from Etna

The estate
Founded in 2005 by Giuseppe Russo in tribute to his father, the Girolamo Russo estate is located in Passopisciaro, Sicily. A former pianist and literature professor, Giuseppe Russo transformed the family heritage by abandoning bulk wine sales to devote himself to high-quality, artisanal, organic production. Now at the helm of the estate, he cultivates around fifteen hectares of vines with a minimal-intervention approach, creating wines that authentically and elegantly express the full complexity of their volcanic terroir.

The vineyard
The vines extend across the northern slopes of Mount Etna, at an altitude ranging from 650 to 780 meters. This unique terroir is composed of mineral-rich volcanic soils, formed by ancient lava flows, pumice stone and basalt. Certified organic, the estate favors rigorous manual work. The plots are home to a diversity of vines, some of which, trained in the gobelet or cordon system, are between 20 and 100 years old, giving them deep roots capable of drawing out the full essence of this singular soil in Sicily.

The vintage
The year 2024 was marked by a particularly dry season, with very low rainfall from the month of May onward. These drought conditions, combined with above-average temperatures, accelerated the vegetative cycle and grape ripening by about two weeks, forcing the harvest to begin as early as mid-July. Thanks to their deep root systems, the estate's old vines were able to withstand this demanding climate by drawing on the soil's water reserves.

Winemaking and aging
For this Etna Rosso "'a Rina" 2024, the grapes are mostly destemmed before undergoing fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks and small open vats. Skin maceration lasts about ten days. Malolactic fermentation occurs spontaneously in spring in large oak barrels. Aging continues for 12 months in 2,600-liter Slavonian oak casks and concrete vats, followed by a minimum six-month rest in bottle before release.

Grape varieties
90% Nerello Mascalese, 10% Nerello Cappuccio.