When noted Italian importer Marco de Grazia established Tenuta delle Terre Nere in 2002, he didn't just build an estate—he ignited the modern Mount Etna revolution. Driven by a vision to showcase high-elevation volcanic terroir with the same single-vineyard precision seen in fine European domaines, Terre Nere put Sicilian winemaking squarely on the global map. This 2024 Etna Rosso "Calderara Sottana" represents the absolute benchmark of their red production, standing as a true icon of high-altitude Italian winemaking.

The secret behind this bottling lies in its extreme, singular terroir. Grown on the northern slopes of Mount Etna—a genuinely active, towering volcano—these 50- to 100-year-old Nerello Mascalese vines are rooted in deep volcanic ash speckled with black pumice and volcanic rock. Those intense mineral soils give the wine a structure and age-worthy elegance reminiscent of top-tier Barolo, combined with the perfumed, seductive soul of a fine Burgundy. It's no surprise that James Suckling kept the momentum going with this release, marking seven consecutive vintages rating this single-site Calderara Sottana between 94 and 99 points. For collectors whose cellars are heavily weighted with Piedmont, Tuscany, Rhône, and Burgundy, this is the ideal bottle to add range, freshness, and sheer drinking excitement to your collection.

In the glass, it pours a translucent ruby, opening with vibrant aromas of wild red cherries, dried rose petals, crushed lava rock, orange peel, and subtle Mediterranean scrub. The palate is medium-bodied yet deceptively power-packed, balancing bright red fruit with fine-grained tannins and a driving mineral backbone that carries through a long, spice-laced finish. Drink a bottle now after a generous decant alongside pan-seared duck breast or slow-braised pork ragù, or lay the rest down for a decade or more to watch its volcanic complexity unfold.

Molte Grazie!

Critical Acclaim:

97 Points, James Suckling:

 “Soft and silky with medium body, round and polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. So poised and focused. Wonderful aftertaste with plums, berries, smoke and spices. Drink or hold.”