Young Catanian entrepreneur Francesco Restivo is setting up a 50-plus-hectare winery on Etna, and with advice from the Cotarella-Chiasso team he has come out with his first, excellent wine: the Etna Bianco Contrada Arcuria 2022.
The adventure of Francis Restivo in the wine world is beginning. He is a young entrepreneur from Catania, but he is also a cousin of Alberto Ajello Graci, whom all wine lovers know, and he owned a handkerchief of vineyard in Contrada Arcuria By family inheritance. Then he became powerfully passionate about wine, and began buying land and vineyards on Etna. In the districts of Verzella and Feudo di Mezzo for now, but it is coming to more than 50 hectares in a short time, 13 of which are currently planted with vines and many to be planted in the near future.
His first “important” wine is released these days. It is about Etna Bianco Contrada Arcuria of 2022. Produced with more than a year on its fine lees, with 90% aged in steel and 10% matured in barrique. Drift alone Carricante and from vines at least 40 years old.
He is technically followed by the team of Riccardo Cotarella and Pierpaolo Chiasso, with their team of young winemakers. The first taste was really interesting. This is a taut but well-structured wine, with not too much alcohol content and a very convincing search for balance. The question, as an old scout of Italian vitienology, is whether a new star is being born. That was the feeling. You can see the result of the tasting below. Is it a risk? That may be so, but I hope the flair of yesteryear has not deserted me.
TO READ THE WINE DESCRIPTIONS, WITH SCORE AND AVERAGE SHELF PRICE, CLICK ON THE TABS BELOW.
TASTINGS
