Davide Bentivegna Etnella 'Tracotanza Plus' Rosso 2021

Press 2 • August 2024 Direct Press Selection

Davide Bentivegna was born in Sicily but was working in management for Siemens in Milan when he found himself pulled back to Sicily and bitten by the winemaking bug. On Mount Etna he learned winemaking from his neighbor, an old man who only made one wine for himself. Yet he was able to hand down old, traditional knowledge to Davide, who had no background in wine. Davide was also helped along by natural wine stalwarts like Piedmont's Stefano Bellotti and Etna's own Frank Cornelissen. His first vintage was 2010. He has a humanistic approach to winemaking and a low-intervention approach to farming, and takes his responsibilty to his century old albarello-trained vines very seriously.

Tracotanza Plus is 100% Nerello Mascalese from 60 year old vines planted at 1000 meters above sea level. Only 533 bottles were produced. Deep black cherry and dusty sage are matched with very fine, filigreed tannins. It's a grippy wine with a restrained power that will age well but is drinkable now. It harnesses the explosive energy of Mount Etna into something invigorating, impressive, and seriously moving. Jonathan Kemp