Contrada G 2013
As opposed to the 2012 vintage, which was a hot and dry year, 2013 was quite cold and rainy throughout the growing season. We waited until the middle of October to start tasting the red grapes in the vineyards, but everything was still quite unripe: there was still a taste of greenness in the grapes after the cold summer. However, at the end of October, we had almost a week of warm weather, which helped the grapes to reach maturation. The berries were small but healthy, with dark skins.
Once in the cellar, the musts had an acidic quality, with intense and dark fruits, very different from the bright, round, and rich 2012. For Barolo lovers, 2013 is a vintage not to miss, because of its austerity and elegance, freshness and intensity.
Vineyard age: 80 years
Vineyard density: 8,000 vines per Ha
Vineyard altitude: 550 m a.s.l.
Yield per hectare: 20 Hl/Ha
Fertilization: None
Spraying: Clay, propolis, sulphur, copper, grapefruit seed extract
Harvest: 23-31 October
Vinification: Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel vats for 10 days
Aging: Malolactic fermentation followed by 18 months aging in large, neutral oak barrels
REVIEWS
“The G stands for Guardiola, one of Etna’s most prized and coveted vineyard sites. Passopisciaro’s 2013 Contrada G shows some age in terms of its appearance. The wine opens to a dark garnet color with shadings of brown and copper at the rim. On the nose, this red wine from Etna delivers ripe fruit tones with dried cherry and plum. The tannins are dry and delineated. Only 2,700 bottles were produced. (Drinking window: 2017-2025)”
— Monica Larner, Robert Parker, 92 points
“Bright red. Spicy minerals and underbrush complicate red berries and almond paste on the nose and rather fleshy palate. Finishes peppery and long, with slightly gritty tannins and a trace of alcoholic heat. Contrada G stands for Guardiola, one of the more historically famous crus of Etna, located between 800 and 1,000 meters above sea level. Owner Andrea Franchetti makes this wine from roughly 80-year-old vines located in the bottom part of the contrada, right above the Santo Spirito cru. (Drink 2017-2024)”
— Ian D’Agata, Vinous Media, 89 points
“Crushed stone, clove, dark-skinned berry and Mediterranean herb aromas emerge. The palate is rather shy, offering sour cherry, licorice, white pepper and mineral framed in firm acidity and assertive, fine-grained tannins.”
— Wine Enthusiast, 89 points
100% Nerello Mascalese
