Tenuta delle Terre Nere
"Proprietor Marc de Grazia is one of the pioneers of the Etna. Not only was he among the first producers to recognize the value of these once-forgotten, ancient terroirs, he also was the first producer to bring attention to the specific qualities of these vineyards by bottling single-parcel Nerellos that have become reference-point wines for the Etna." – Wine Advocate
"Terre Nere's wines all possessed unbelievable freshness and complexity as well as huge perfumes that suggested Pinot Noir...These wines are astonishingly complex and ethereal efforts from the hillsides of Mt. Etna in Sicily." – Robert Parker
The Terre Nere estate has roughly 20-21 hectares, of which 15 are planted to vines. Roughly 4.5 of these have been uprooted and will be replanted within two years after letting the soil "rest". Two vineyards, for a total of roughly 11-12 hectares, make up the Calderara Cru, of which 1.5 hectares are pre-phylloxera; the rest are about 40-50 years old (and they have not been uprooted). Two different vineyards comprise the Guardiola Cru, for a total of 2.1 hectares, almost all of which is pre-phylloxera (except for some replanted vines). The Guardiola vineyards are the highest-altitude red-grape vineyards in Europe! The "Feudo di Mezzo" Cru is made up of two other vineyards, for a total of 1.35 hectares.
500,000 years of volcanic eruptions have created endless soil variation in neighboring plots of land, many of them radical. The soil at Terre Nere is mostly volcanic ash speckled by black pumice and peppered with abundant volcanic rock; to call it 'rocky' is putting it mildly! The weather variations in the area are profound and generally characterized by exposure, altitude, and 'airiness,' defined here as the character of a well-exposed vineyard not protected by hills, and therefore open to the cooling and drying effects of the wind. This is particularly important at Terre Nere because the harvest usually takes place in the last weeks of October, meaning that the grapes are in their most fragile state when the weather 'breaks' its autumn pattern, making them susceptible to oidium and mildew. The 'airiness' of the climate, however, helps to dry out the grapes after rain and moisture threaten mold.
Above all else, the extraordinary elevation yields dramatic temperature variations between night and day, making the wines of Etna fine and elegant, devoid of the heat and overripe flavors that usually define southern wines. In fact, most people who have tasted these wines, particularly the 2004s, say they find them most akin to Burgundies or Barolos.
Production is simple, classic, and Burgundian in style: the grapes are grown organically, using only bordelaise mixture and organic fertilization – mostly dung. Vinification follows the same lead: maceration-fermentation lasts 10-15 days, followed by malolactic fermentation and aging in oak – 25% new – and bottling around 18 months later.
The 2004 vintage marks the real birth of Tenuta delle Terre Nere, because for the first time the estate is self sufficient, and the grapes produced were vinified at the estate's new cellars. The wines are astounding. The '02 and '03s have been likened to Pinot and Nebbiolo, as being Burgundian or Langhe-esque. Now there's no doubt about it. The old vines cuvees are difficult to distinguish from very fine Burgundy! With their subtlety and generosity, the wines manage to be rich and precise at the same time.
Terre Nere 'San Lorenzo' Nerello Mascalese 2017
$46.95 $65.99
Wine Spectator 94 "There's a lovely sweetness to the dried raspberry and strawberry fruit in this lithe, elegant, medium-bodied red, with supple tannins and juicy acidity
Terre Nere 'Prephylloxera' Etna Rosso 2017
$79.95 $105.60
Wine Spectator 95 "A graceful, medium-bodied version, with silky tannins and a pleasing juiciness to the array of plumped cherry, stemmy herb and tangy mineral flavors,
Terre Nere 'Etna Rosato' Nerello Masclases 2018
$17.95 $22.93
Vinous Media 91 "Ultra pale onion-peel pink. Herbs, almond paste, fresh flowers and cherry skin on the fresh nose. Then bright and juicy in the mouth
Terre Nere 'Guardiola' Nerello Mascalese 2017
$36.95 $48.00
Vinous Media 93+ "Luminous crimson color. Offers minty red fruit and minerals on the captivating nose. Full, dense and rich, with multilayered flavors of red cherry,
Terre Nere 'Santo Spirito' Etna Bianco 2018
$29.95 $39.46
The Wine 100% Carricante grown in deep, soft and dark volcanic soil, rich in volcanic ash at 700-750m above sea level. Soft pressing, low temperature
Terre Nere 'Etna Rosso' Nerello Masclese 2018
$16.95 $22.93
The Wine "At Terre Nere vinification is simple, classic, and Burgundian in technique. Alcoholic fermentation and maceration on the skins last from 10 to 15 days;
Terre Nere 'Calderara Sottana' Nerello Mascalese 2016
$44.95 $58.66
Vinous Media 96+ "Moderately saturated brilliant crimson red. Minty and balsamic nuances complement the very elegant aromas of strawberry, red cherry, rose petal, savory herbs and
Terre Nere 'Le Vigne Niche' Calderara Sottana Bianco 2018
$29.95 $39.46
The Wine 100 Carricante grown in volcanic ash soils speckled with black pumice and solid volcanic rock at an altitude of 600-650 meters above sea level.
Terre Nere 'Feudo di Mezzo' Nerello Masclases 2017
$36.95 $48.00
Wine Spectator 91 "Ripe black raspberry and blackberry fruit is accented by wild sage and mandarin orange peel hints in this minerally, medium-bodied red. Plush tannins
Terre Nere 'Etna Rosso' Nerello Masclese 2017
Vinous Media 92 "Bright red. Pure nose offers red cherry and raspberry fruit aromas complicated by herbs and minerals. Suave and rather tightly wound, but nicely
Terre Nere 'Calderara Sottana' Nerello Masclases 2014
Wine Advocate 95 "The 2014 Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana is the most polished and finessed of the three single-Contrada wines made by Tenuta delle Terre Nere.
Terre Nere 'Etna Bianco' Carricante 2018
Vinous Media 90 "Luminous medium-dark straw yellow. Aromas and flavors of chamomile and balsamic oils along with hints of pear and minerals on the inviting nose.
Terre Nere 'Santo Spirito' Etna Bianco 2017
Vinous Media 93 "Luminous golden-tinged straw yellow. Minerals and a hint of white flowers on the saline accented nose. Rich round and smooth, with very deep,
Terre Nere 'Feudo di Mezzo' Nerello Masclases 2015
Wine Enthusiast 95 # 27 Cellar Selection 2018 "Scorched earth, flint, grilled herb and red berry aromas follow over to the palate along with ripe cherry, raspberry
Terre Nere 'Calderara Sottana' Etna Bianco 2015
Wine Adovcate 93 "This is a spectacular expression of Carricante, and I'd be very curious to try the wine again in five year's time when it
Terre Nere 'Etna Bianco' Carricante 2016
The Wine 60% Carricante, 25% Catarratto, 10% Grecanico, 5% Minnella from vineyards located on the northern slopes of the Etna volcano at 600-900 meters above seal
Terre Nere 'San Lorenzo' Nerello Mascalese 2016
Wine Spectator 95 #9 Top 100 "Ripe black cherry and raspberry fruit meets tarry mineral and accents of licorice, spiced orange peel and herb in this
Terre Nere 'Calderara Sottana' Etna Bianco 2016
Wine Spectator 90 "A broad, medium-bodied white that expands on the palate with flavors of pear and peach skin, hazelnut and lemon parfait, while well-cut acidity
Terre Nere 'Santo Spirito' Nerello Mascalese 2008
Robert Parker 95 "The 2008 Etna Rosso Santo Spirito is dark, inviting and exceptionally polished. The big tannins are there, but here there is so much
Terre Nere 'Le Vigne Niche' Calderara Sottana Bianco 2017
Decanter 96 "Perfect balance of freshness and richness. This 100% Carricante is perfumed yet austere, citrus yet saline, full yet energised. Fermented on lees. Organic.” Vinous Media
Terre Nere 'Guardiola' Nerello Masclese 2016
Wine Spectator 93 "An up-front waft of tarry mineral leads to delicate aromas and flavors of dried thyme, orange peel and spice box, featuring ripe strawberry
Terre Nere 'Etna Rosso' Nerello Mascalese 2012
Wine Advocate 93 "The 2012 Etna Rosso shows a fascinating bouquet with dried herb, balsam tones and beautiful background notes of dried fruit and mineral.
Terre Nere 'Santo Spirito' Nerello Masclases 2015
Vinous Media 93 "Bright red. Very perfumed nose of red cherry, raspberry jam, cinnamon, nutmeg and minerals complicated by tar and shoe polish. Clean, fresh and
Terre Nere 'Le Vigne Niche' Etna Bianco 2014
James Suckling 95 "A round, creamy white with dried lemon, mineral, stone and apple skin. Full-bodied and very flavorful and bright. Grand cru stuff here. Greatest
Terre Nere 'Prephylloxera' Etna Rosso 2013
In front and to the right of our cellar in Calderara Sottana there are two parcels, in the midst of a larger vineyard that have