Animantica Etna Rosso 2022

Club Oenologique

From a beautiful old vineyard in the Contrada Santo Spirito on the northern slope, where vines are more than one hundred years old. Amedeo Moretti Cuseri, owner of Anima Etnea winery, says that this handkerchief of barely a hectare made the whole family fall in love with this land. Ancient, loose soils make up the terroir with a mixture of rock and dark sands. 100% Nerello Mascalese was vinified from the 2022 vintage by the talented winemaker Emiliano Falsini. The wine shows small red berries, with a floral and smoky edge. A generous but not abundant palate holds accentuated but well-integrated tannins thanks to gentle extractions and the use of large wooden vessels. This wine is still a bit too young with lots of nerve and restraint, confirming its huge ageing potential for more than one decade.

WinesCritic.com

Exceptional in its aromatic profile, it shows notes of cassis, wild myrtle, oregano, cumin, sandalwood, wilted rose petals, pieces of citron, and red plums. Solid and assertive on the palate, it finishes enveloping and particularly taut. Only 900 bottles produced.

Falstaff

Clear, brightening ruby-garnet colour. Open and finely drawn nose with notes of strawberry, blood orange and stony, earthy components. Opens on the palate with lots of juicy fruit, raspberry and strawberry, then opens up with gripping, dense tannins, with a full-bodied finish and firm drive.

James Suckling

This shows bright, earthy strawberries, cinnamon, straw and restrained smoke. Medium-bodied and full of sweet fruit, it has crisp acidity, floral flavors and velvety tannins with a mineral finish that’s austere yet ripe. From organically grown grapes.

Decanter

Another new wine from the estate, Animantica is a bottling of fruit from the oldest vines. It's a small production of around 900 bottles. Expect deep, dark cherry with smoke and grilled herb notes, then a tight, precise and grippy palate with dense fruits, a squeeze of blood orange and touches of clove and cardamom, overlaid with pretty floral aromas of Parma violets and lavender.