“Contrada Cavaliere” Bianco Etna DOC 2021

Benanti Viticoltori | Sicily
Benanti Viticoltori S.p.a. | Via Garibaldi 361 | IT 95029 Viagrande

19130421 · 0,75 l · 53,32 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping1 unit available

Benanti's new white wine comes 100% from the small vineyard (Contrada) Cavaliere. The vineyards in the municipality of Santa Maria di Licodìa develop at a considerable altitude (approx. 900 metres above sea level) with favourable conditions for all indigenous varieties, both red and white berries, which are cultivated here with Guyot pruning. Here, both the Nerello and the Carricante produce wines with a well-defined structure and typical varietal flavours. The vines are around 50 years old and grow on sandy, volcanic soil that is rich in minerals. The climate is alpine, with little rainfall and provides the vines with a high degree of ventilation and very large temperature differences between day and night.

Straw yellow in colour with bright green reflections. The bouquet is intense, rich, generous and delicately fruity with hints of orange blossom and ripe apple. The palate is dry, mineral, harmonious with a pleasant acidity, aromatic pressure and an interesting aftertaste of aniseed and almonds. SUPERIORE.DE

"Cool, polished and tart, somewhat vegetal nose with very light, cool yellow fruity and nutty tones as well as slightly yeasty notes and a hint of parsley. Clear, cool, tart fruit, again bright nutty flavours, a little vegetal and yeasty in the background, chalk, salt, parsley and a hint of smoke, good persistence, elegant style, with tension, persistent, still rather undeveloped, very good, firm finish with cool, bright juice, some smoke, nuts and clear minerality." Wein-Plus

"Contrada Cavaliere on Etna's southwest slope is situated at around 950 metres above sea level. Benanti's unoaked white from here is lemony and floral, light and stony, with a fresh, peachy mid-palate and a bright finish." Decanter

"This clean, saline white wine is creamy on the palate and offers a smooth mesh of green melon, grapefruit zest, beeswax and eucalyptus notes that linger on the finish." Wine Spectator

"The Benanti 2021 Etna Bianco Contrada Cavaliere initially shows a layer of citrus fruit, then bitter almond and unripe peach. The bouquet is rather neutral at this young stage and develops subtly and slowly in the glass. It has a bright golden colour with greenish reflections. The finish is very clean and ends with a pronounced mineral character. Contrada Cavaliere is located on the south-west side of the volcano in Santa Maria di Licodia at an altitude of 950 metres. You should expect a beautiful aromatic development of this bottle over the next few years." Wine Advocate

"Aromas of sliced apples, savory herbs, green olives and white pepper. Some stony minerality, too. Medium-bodied, layered and round-textured with vivid acidity. It is tense and persisting with a mineral nature and attractive spicy, green-herb savory undertones. Lengthy and textural." James Suckling

"On the nose, fragrant tulips and white flowers are balanced by spicy notes of grass and stone, with undertones of bitter citrus and herbs. On the refreshing yet full-bodied palate, the citrus fruits sweeten the iced tea with lemonade, while the herbal notes linger on the finish." Wine Enthusiast