Among Wine Spectator’s Top 100 List, this 2012 beauty is one wine you don’t want to miss. The 2012 Tenuta Delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso Guardiola shows dark red fruits on the nose with a hint of vanilla and leather. It is an easy drink with notable minerality and complexity that ends with a long, sweet finish. This bottle is truly a treat to taste, especially when paired with a light snack of Asiago cheese and grapes. I intended to save a glass to taste with the main dish of homemade sweet sausage, but once my family members had a sip, they insisted on finishing the bottle. The 2012 is fresh and full of energy with its rich character. It is young and absolutely approachable now.
Sitting on the hills of Mount Etna, atop an elevation of almost 1,000 meters in southern Sicily, the Guardiola vineyards contain young and old vines of Nerello Mascalese, a variety that reveals the terroir where it is grown. The specific terroir consists of volcanic soil, pebbles and ash. The crews tending to the vineyards work countless hours to ensure that what is bottled is brilliant. Making the trek up the steep and narrow terrain to the vineyard is half the battle! But the journey is made year after year to ensure there will be the next great vintage of this attractive Guardiola.
James Suckling gave this gem a fantastic rating of 95 points and described it as “a chewy and rich red with plum, berry, citrus and mineral character. Full body, rich tannins and a fruity finish. This is layered and beautiful. Drink or hold.” For only $35.95, it is a good idea to have a few on hand – some to drink now and some to hold!