The 2018 Passobianco is the main white wine cuvée from Andrea Franchetti’s Passopisciaro estate made from a number of different vineyards sites. These plots of Chradonnay sit at varying altitudes between 850 to 1,000 metres on the north face of Etna. While the vines are younger than its red counterpart, they produce a wine with an overriding sense of purity that clearly identifies the quality on offer here. On the nose it has a lovely, subtle, fresh pear and white peach aroma. On the palate it is rich, layered with an impressive density to the mid-palate but very fine in texture. The scorching acidity cuts nicely through the fruit with saline notes and an almost powdery, chalky mineral flavour on the finish. Drink 2021-2028.

FINE+RARE  (May 2021)    Drink 2021-2028

The Passorosso is the main cuvée from Andrea Franchetti’s Passopisciaro estate made from a number of different vineyards sites at varying altitudes on the north face of Etna. These high-altitude vineyards are a staggering 15˚C below coastal temperatures in the region. Combine this with very cool nights and you have an exceptionally long growing season, the grapes typically not picked until late October. This gives the wine a rich, complex aromatic spectrum, while remaining distinctly elegant. On the nose there are bright red fruit aromas, ranging from raspberries to sour cherries with hints of white pepper. On the palate, the scented aromatic red fruit flavours continue with added saline and smoky mineral notes. The mid-palate is nicely concentrated and structured – the tannins polished and well framed by refreshing acidity, that leads to a sharp and precise finish. The wine is perfectly approachable now and should evolve nicely over the next five to eight years.

FINE+RARE  (May 2021)    Drink 2021-2030