Mount Etna is one of wine’s most thrilling frontiers, and Calabretta stands as one of its defining traditionalist icons with a massive cult following. While famous for their Vigne Vecchie, the 2022 "Piede Franco" offers an extraordinary twist: 100% Nerello Mascalese planted completely ungrafted (piede franco) from a rigorous massal selection of their 80+ year-old ancestral vines in prime Contrada Taccione. Organic, hands-off, and grown nearly a half-mile high on black volcanic soils, this delivers the raw soul of Sicily—offering an approachable power that will win over Barolo purists and impress at a fraction of the cost of hyped single-contrada bottles.
In the glass, discover bright wild sour cherry and raspberry fruit laced with crushed sage, blood orange, and signature volcanic smoke. The palate strikes a beautiful balance between high-altitude energy and depth, driving home slate minerality, cracked black pepper, and fine, iron-clad yet silky tannins that effortlessly echo top-tier Burgundy. Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck captured it perfectly in her glowing 94-point review, raving that it “opens with a savory and classic profile of dried flowers, rusted earth, sour cherries, orange peel, and tea leaf,” while praising its “taut, elegant structure,” “fine-grained tannins,” and “mouthwatering salinity on the finish.”
An incredible, ungrafted volcanic gem for any true Italian classicist, this bottle is a mandatory addition to any cellar. Molte Grazie!
Why You’ll Love It
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A genuine Etna original: “Piede Franco” refers to ungrafted Nerello Mascalese vines growing on their own roots in volcanic soils—a rare, vivid link to pre-modern Etna viticulture and a powerful expression of place.
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Old-school winemaking: Calabretta works in a traditional, low-intervention style, emphasizing organic farming, native yeasts, and aging in large old oak botti rather than new-barrel flavor. The result is savory, structured, transparent, and built to evolve.
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Exceptional quality-to-price ratio compared to the region's triple-digit single-contrada bottlings.
How To Serve It
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Decant for 45–60 minutes, Serve lightly cool, between 60–65°F in large Burgundy bowls
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Pair alongside duck breast with cherry or orange sauce, lamb chops with rosemary, mushroom ragù over pappardelle, grilled sausages, or smoky eggplant dishes. Also an excellent partner for aged pecorino or other firm sheep’s-milk cheeses.
