Tenuta di Fessina

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Wine Advocate Reviews of October 2019


Erse Bianco	2018	White	Etna	90+	"This is a terrific wine that I drank (and drank it I did) after a long day of tasting mostly red wines from Etna. My palate was tired, but the 2018 Etna Bianco Erse happily whipped me back into shape thanks to its beautifully tonic acidity and the purity of the bouquet. The 12% alcohol felt mild and food-friendly, and the nose bloomed with white flowers and almond blossoms. The wine ends with mineral notes and tartness. This wine comes together very nicely. The blend is 90% Carricante with 10% Catarratto and Minnella. Some 16,000 bottles were made."
A'Puddara	2017	White	Etna	88	"The 2017 Etna Bianco Carricante A' Puddara feels a little further down the road in terms of evolution than it should. The wine offers heavier tones of preserved lemon and ripe peach. The heat and power of the vintage takes on a greater role here. This vintage is a little less energetic compared to past editions. Some 10,000 bottles were made."
Erse Rosso	2017	Red	Etna	88	"Tenuta di Fessina's 2017 Etna Rosso Erse is a mid-weight expression with a very bright and buoyant personality that will put a smile on your face. The wine is simple and relatively uncomplicated, but it does indeed deliver lots of territory-driven authenticity that reminds you of the volcanic environment where it was born. Wild berry fruit and pressed flowers are followed by smoke, tar and white licorice root. I had some questions regarding the 2016 vintage, but this 2017 vintage is clean and well-presented. Nerello Mascalese (90%) is blended with smaller parts Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante and Minnella. The wine is fermented and aged in stainless steel. Some 25,000 bottles were made."
Laeneo	2017	Red	Etna	83	"The Tenuta di Fessina 2017 Sicilia Nerello Cappuccio Laeneo sadly shows a bit of Brett that covers up the grape's naturally spicy intensity and purity. The bouquet is closed and mute, save for some earthy or animal-like aromas. I cannot recommend this wine. Some 5,000 bottles were made.
Il Musmeci Bianco	2015	White	Etna	92	"This is no longer a Superiore, but it has taken on a contrada name instead to designate the vineyard where the fruit is sourced. Contrada Caselle is in Milo where Superiore wines are made. Made with fruit from ancient alberello vines, the 2015 Etna Bianco Contrada Caselle il Musmeci offers a broad and enriched texture with apricot and toasted almond. You get some of those aged Carricante characteristics with very mild and delicate petrol fuel and volcanic ash. The wine should take on more volume over the next few months of bottle age. The wine shows a more oxidative, medium-bodied approach overall, and a mere 650 bottles were made."
Il Musmeci	2015	Red	Etna	88	"Past editions of this wine were labeled Riserva, but that does not seem to be the case in this vintage. The 2015 Etna Rosso Il Musmeci is a full and generous wine with a very slight hint of animal fur or Band-Aid. It's not too bad now, but it could get worse in time. Otherwise, this wine offers sour cherry, wild berry, smoke and spice. The finish is mild, compact and short, with a moment of dry tannins as well. Some 10,000 bottles were made."

Wine Advocate

Wine Advocate

press

Wine Advocate Reviews of October 2019


Erse Bianco	2018	White	Etna	90+	"This is a terrific wine that I drank (and drank it I did) after a long day of tasting mostly red wines from Etna. My palate was tired, but the 2018 Etna Bianco Erse happily whipped me back into shape thanks to its beautifully tonic acidity and the purity of the bouquet. The 12% alcohol felt mild and food-friendly, and the nose bloomed with white flowers and almond blossoms. The wine ends with mineral notes and tartness. This wine comes together very nicely. The blend is 90% Carricante with 10% Catarratto and Minnella. Some 16,000 bottles were made."
A'Puddara	2017	White	Etna	88	"The 2017 Etna Bianco Carricante A' Puddara feels a little further down the road in terms of evolution than it should. The wine offers heavier tones of preserved lemon and ripe peach. The heat and power of the vintage takes on a greater role here. This vintage is a little less energetic compared to past editions. Some 10,000 bottles were made."
Erse Rosso	2017	Red	Etna	88	"Tenuta di Fessina's 2017 Etna Rosso Erse is a mid-weight expression with a very bright and buoyant personality that will put a smile on your face. The wine is simple and relatively uncomplicated, but it does indeed deliver lots of territory-driven authenticity that reminds you of the volcanic environment where it was born. Wild berry fruit and pressed flowers are followed by smoke, tar and white licorice root. I had some questions regarding the 2016 vintage, but this 2017 vintage is clean and well-presented. Nerello Mascalese (90%) is blended with smaller parts Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante and Minnella. The wine is fermented and aged in stainless steel. Some 25,000 bottles were made."
Laeneo	2017	Red	Etna	83	"The Tenuta di Fessina 2017 Sicilia Nerello Cappuccio Laeneo sadly shows a bit of Brett that covers up the grape's naturally spicy intensity and purity. The bouquet is closed and mute, save for some earthy or animal-like aromas. I cannot recommend this wine. Some 5,000 bottles were made.
Il Musmeci Bianco	2015	White	Etna	92	"This is no longer a Superiore, but it has taken on a contrada name instead to designate the vineyard where the fruit is sourced. Contrada Caselle is in Milo where Superiore wines are made. Made with fruit from ancient alberello vines, the 2015 Etna Bianco Contrada Caselle il Musmeci offers a broad and enriched texture with apricot and toasted almond. You get some of those aged Carricante characteristics with very mild and delicate petrol fuel and volcanic ash. The wine should take on more volume over the next few months of bottle age. The wine shows a more oxidative, medium-bodied approach overall, and a mere 650 bottles were made."
Il Musmeci	2015	Red	Etna	88	"Past editions of this wine were labeled Riserva, but that does not seem to be the case in this vintage. The 2015 Etna Rosso Il Musmeci is a full and generous wine with a very slight hint of animal fur or Band-Aid. It's not too bad now, but it could get worse in time. Otherwise, this wine offers sour cherry, wild berry, smoke and spice. The finish is mild, compact and short, with a moment of dry tannins as well. Some 10,000 bottles were made."

Wine Advocate