Girolamo Russo - Etna Rosso San Lorenzo 2020 (750ml)
Price: $98.99
| Producer | Girolamo Russo |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Varietal | Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Sku | 69960 |
| Size | 750ml |
 |
Girolamo Russo Description
Made mostly of Nerello Mascalese with a little Nerello Capuccio grown in the ‘contrada’ of San Lorenzo (near Randazzo) at between 750 and 780 meters (2,450-2,600 feet) above sea level, which is very high for red wines. Soil is an old, weathered lava flow. The vines were planted by massal selection between the 1920s and the 1950s; yields are extremely low, less than two tons per acre; the grapes are picked by hand in late October, brought to the cellar in Passopisciaro, mostly de-stemmed (perhaps 20% of bunches left whole if the stems are ripe), crushed, and fermented using indigenous yeasts.
For Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo lovers, Nerello Mascalese is an exciting find — it can produce reds with impressive delicacy as well as those with great structure. From the ‘Fuedo di Mezzo’ single vineyard, this is a red of both impressive delicacy and structure. Of his three single vineyards, San Lorenzo is regarded as the most structured and deep. Fabulous with pasta dishes and grilled meats.
Similar fruit notes to the other ‘cru’ wines, but somewhat more serious structure, should age beautifully. Cherry, forest-floor, leather, tea-like tannins on the palate. Excellent.
Wine Advocate: 96 Points
Maybe the most classic interpretation of an Etna wine you will find, the Girolamo Russo 2020 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo sets the bar very high for all neighboring producers on the volcano. The wine is extremely elegant and nuanced with a filigree of wild berry, white cherry, mountain flower and campfire ash woven within its tight, silky texture. San Lorenzo is actually quite solid in terms of mouthfeel, despite the very light texture of its fruit weight.
Vinous: 92 Points
The 2020 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo is impossible to resist, wafting up with sweet clove, incense, dried flowers and spiced citrus scents. It's soft-textured and built on purity. Vibrant acidity guides its ripe wild strawberry fruit, and saline minerals slowly add traction toward the close. The 2020 finishes remarkably fresh, long and potent, leaving suggestions of steeped plum and licorice to linger. At times, the San Lorenzo reminds me of Rayas, yet it remains distinctly Etna in character.
