Staff Favourite
Allegracore, Etna Rosso, Fattorie Romeo del Castello 2019
IR12719

Allegracore, Etna Rosso, Fattorie Romeo del Castello 2019
£29.00
75cl ALC 13.5%
Flag of Italy ITALY

A native to Mount Etna with Nerello Mascalese grapes that still remember the 1981 volcanic eruption!

Strawberry compote and stewed black raspberry soften the rich flavours of black smoke, sage and rich, earthy characteristics. This small vineyard, found at 700m altitude, uses vines up to 100 years old to create one of the most complex and vibrant reds to offer.

Its exuberantly fragrant fruit flavours and expressive volcanic minerality are akin to some sort of child of Burgundy and Nebbiolo.

I cannot wait to try this with Beef Wellington this year. Rachel Huber

Burgundian style wine with wild strawberry fruit, fresh with a sweet core. From a 14 hectare vineyard close to Etna that lost half its vines to the 1981 eruption.

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Details

Italy, Italy, Sicily

Still Red

Nerello Mascalese

Nerello Mascalese

Medium-bodied

Drink Now

2019

13.5%

75cl

Fattorie Romeo del Castello

Fattorie Romeo del Castello

Fattorie Romeo del Castello

Fattoria Romeo del Castello is just outside Randazzo, Sicily on the slopes of Mount Etna. The estate is owned by Rosanna Romeo and her daughter Chiara Vigo who are breathing new life into this property. In the family for four generations, the existence of the entire estate was threatened in 1981 by an eruption of Etna.

Fortunately 14 out of the 30 hectares were spared including most of the oldest vines although much of the rest of the property was lost or had to be sold. The vineyards are located at 700 metres altitude around the Alcantara River on the slopes of the mountain. Until Chiara returned in 2007 the estate had not produced its own wine for many years but a chance meeting with consultant Salvo Foti persuaded her of the importance of what she had and with his help it was bought back to life. The only grape grown is Nerello Mascalese with their 14 hectares comprising old vines ranging from 70 – 100 years of age. Methods are traditional with the aim being to move to biodynamic viticulture. Winemaking involves natural yeasts with minimum sulphur. The results are extraordinary, elegant, Burgundian style wines full of character.

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Vintage guide

Last year’s vintage, 2023, proved complicated, good in the north but in central and southern regions, more tricky resulting in one of the smallest vintages of recent years. A dry winter followed by a hot summer has certainly affected yields in 2022, but the quality looks excellent across the country. Small but perfectly formed seems to sum up the 2021 vintage here. Across most of the country the 2020 vintage is looking very good indeed with ripe fruit and lovely aromatics. A classic if not straight forward vintage 2019 has delivered some excellent wines but in smaller quantity. Overall, the results are very good in 2018, though a warm wet early summer led to disease pressures in many parts of the country. The Northeast, home to Prosecco amongst others did particularly well; so too did Tuscany and Piedmont but yields were a little down in some estates. 2017 saw a small crop of excellent wines; spring frosts and a later heatwave nicknamed ‘Lucifer’ reduced yields, but you’ll find good results on the whole with excellent results in Piedmont. Yields were down in 2016 but quality is high, Piedmont and Tuscany at least as good as 2015. 2015 is generally an excellent vintage across Italy, perhaps reds having the edge over whites.
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Delivery information

STANDARD MAINLAND UK DELIVERY – up to 5 working days

Delivery is FREE on orders of £150 or more to a single address in mainland UK.

Please add £9.95 post & packing per delivery address for orders under £150.

Unless advised otherwise, you will normally receive your delivery in 5 working days.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES – delivery to remote UK postcodes

Our couriers can deliver to most geographically remote locations but do bear in mind that these do incur a higher delivery charge and will take longer to arrive.

Isle of Wight and Northern Ireland ‒ first case (up to 12 x 75cl) is charged at a flat rate of £25 then £10 per subsequent case.

Isles of Scilly, Isle of Man and Scottish Offshore Islands ‒ first case (up to 12 x 75cl) is charged at a flat rate of £30 then £10 per subsequent case.

Rates are automatically calculated at the checkout.

ORDERS FROM OUTSIDE THE UK

Orders placed from outside the UK will be accepted for UK delivery.

We do not export from the UK or deliver to: Channel Islands, BFPO