2020 I custodi Pistus Etna Rosso

Region: Mt. Etna < Sicily < Italy
Grapes: 80% Nerello Mascalese, 20% Nerello Cappuccio
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic by Suolo e Salute; sandy, volcanic soil; 10 month fermentation in stainless steel tanks, without temperature control. Élevage for 12 months in stainless steel; bottled unfined with light filtration and minimal added So2; 12.5% ABV
Winemaker: Mario Paluzzi

• Mario is a disciple of Salvo Foti, the pied piper and godfather of low-intervention wine on Etna, and missionary for high-density bush vines planted in the traditional quincunx formation
• The estate is a member of the I Vigneri (as signaled by the gnarled old vine embossed on the bottle), a winegrowers' guild that dates back to 1435 but was resurrected by Mario's mentor and cellar master Salvo Foti. Today, it's a group of small producers who share Foti's winemaking expertise along with physical resources like harvest crew and donkeys to work the fields.  
• Mario farms 12 small organic-certified plots on Etna’s cooler northern slope
• Black, sandy volcanic soils give this supple light-ish red wine tons of minerality -- this IS Rock Juice!
• Ripe cherry, plum, rocks and tobacco ride the lava wave to a smooth, silky finish