2020 Etna Bianco Superiore Pietramarina

Looking at the last ten seasons in Etna, 2020 falls into the category of a fresh vintage, as did 2016. The 2020 Etna Bianco Superiore Pietra Marina is bright, with notes of saline, fresh pineapple, lemon oil, and petrol. The palate is vertical and exhibits a lot of tension, with a medium-bodied frame, refreshing acidity, and a focused finish. Drink 2025-2045. Proprietors Antonio and Salvino Benanti have been leading their family estate since 2012, following in the footstep of their father Giuseppe. The estate is located on the south side of Etna, where the wines for this report were tasted with Agotino Failla. In the cellar, each of the red Contrade wines was aged for 12 months in French tonneaux prior to resting in the bottle.

The 2020 Etna Bianco Superiore Pietra Marina is lifted and finessed with a remarkably pretty and airy character as white flowers, smoke and a dusting of sweet spice give way to nectarines. Elegant in feel yet seemingly weightless, it splashes across the palate with perfumed orchard fruit tones. Nuances of ginger mix with minerals and a subtle hint of citrus as the 2020 finishes with admirable length and a saline note. I'm not finding the typical tension and verticality of Pietra Marina here, but with that said, the 2020 is still lovely.