I Vigneri Rosato Vinudilice VDT 2015

No sulphur added. Lovely red cherry and strawberry fruit – really characterful. So pleasing ! Long, mineral, open. Excellent. Unfortunate that the UK allocation is only 90 bottles. From a very old vineyard at 1,250 m with mixed white (Minella, Grecanico, and Grenaccio) and Alicante. The Sicilian name of the holly oak, ilice, gives it its name. Perhaps there is also some Nerello Mascalese in this vineyard and hence the blend, but according to Foti, it is hard to ripen Nerello Mascalese properly on altitudes higher than 700m. Pale pink. Aromas of red cherry, botanical herbs and minerals. Enters large and thick, then turns brighter and fresher thanks to peppery acidity that lifts the blood orange and earth elements. Finishes long, chewy and very saline, displaying a strong, lingering note of blood orange. A meaty Rosato. AG : Bright pink. Perfumed aromas of red berries, violet, and minerals. Then hints at redcurrant and strawberry, with a touch of cream soda. At once lively and soft, with a luscious quality on the perfumed long finish. A lovely Rosato that offers lots of flavor on a relatively light frame (and only 12.5% alcohol). Mainly Grenache, with small percentages of local old grapes such as Minnella Bianca, Minnella Nera, and Grecanico. Made from grapes grown at 1,300 meters above sea level: not surprisingly, the grapes have such acidity that Foti uses a part of them to make a sparkling wine (from Nerello Mascalese, but I didn’t taste it during this last visit at the estate). Though it might surprise readers to know there is Grenache on Etna, in fact oldtimers used to plant the variety for it is an early ripening grape and can withstand the high altitudes (Nerello Mascalese instead would rarely if ever ripen properly at 1,000 meters plus).