Contrada S 2019
ABOUT THE VINTAGE
Contrada Sciaranuova is located at 850m a.s.l. The name means “new casting” in Sicilian, indicating the recent geological age of the casting formed just 400 years ago. The wine is deep, broad in complexion, with a note of fermented hay. The vineyard covers 1 hectare of surface.
A late ripening year on Mt. Etna as well, the vintage was characterized by a decidedly cold spring during April and May, with a light frost over May 6-7. This persistent cold weather continued until the end of May without interruption, causing a significant delay in flowering, which itself continued until the middle of June.
June finally brought a gradual and constant increase in temperatures, with the chardonnay flowering first on the 13th, with subsequent fruit set, sparser this year. Then, toward the end of the month, we began to have incredibly high temperatures, peaking near 40 degrees Celsius (almost 104 degrees Fahrenheit); these heat spikes lasted until the end of September, allowing the vines to recuperate some of the time lost by the cold spring. This allowed us to begin thinning the berries at the start of August.
The Chardonnay harvest began later this year, on September 17th, and entering into October, we had an important jump in phenolic ripeness in the red berries thanks to a dramatic period in the diurnal cycle that occurred at the same time as the first quarter moon. This vintage brought about sinuous wines that are not too high in alcohol, with the right equilibrium between fresh fruit and vertical acidity, characteristics due to this final period of physiological maturity at the end of the winding growing season. A year of excellent quality since the rains spared us their odious inference.
REVIEWS
Kerin O’Keefe, Wine Enthusiast, 97 points: “Red berry, rose, wild herb, dark spice and slate aromas shape the enticing nose on this fragrant, gorgeous red. Full-bodied and elegantly structured, the savory palate has an ethereal weightlessness, featuring ripe Marasca cherry, pomegranate, blood orange and white pepper before a flinty mineral finish. It already has tension and great depth, but hold a few more years for more complexity. Drink 2024–2031.”
Walter Speller, Jancis Robinson, 18 points: “Just mid ruby. Iron and raspberry. A sense of depth and richness on the nose but still a little subdued. A hint of oak. Mouth-watering raspberry fruit palate but not tart. A firm layer of fine-grained tannin. Very elegant, yet gripping and layered. Drink 2022-2028.”
Monica Larner,Robertparker.com, 93+points: “The Vini Franchetti 2019 Contrada S (with fruit from 80-year-old vines in the Contrada Sciaranuova at 850 meters in elevation) is floral and bright with a bouquet of red roses and pressed violets. There are hints of white peppercorn and volcanic ash. The wine sports a mid-weight mouthfeel with polished tannins. It still has room to flesh out with more bottle age. Exactly 2,790 bottles were made. Drink Date:2023 – 2037”
Eric Guido, Vinous, 95 points: “Nosing the 2019 Contrada Sciaranuova (S) is a total pleasure. Masses of rose petals, sour cherries, tangerine, cedar and smoke form its wonderfully perfumed bouquet. This is seamlessly silky without any hard edges, displaying a harmonious mix of ripe red fruits and sweet inner spice. It finishes structured, remarkably long, but also fresh, leaving the palate with a youthful concentration, but also residual acids that maintain a juicy persona. The 2019 is a stunning rendition of Sciaranuova. Drinking Window: 2024 – 2031”
BLEND
100% Nerello Mascalese
ALTITUDE
850 m asl (2,750 feet)
PRODUCTION
2,790 bottles
