Nerello Mascalese Vigne Vecchie, Calabretta - 2016

Very few of us have the storage space or the time and energy to be cellaring wine. You have to love producers like Calabretta that understand this and age their wines for us. Here you have a declassified Etna Rosso made from organically grown Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio whose vines average 80 years. It’s spent over three years in cask and seven in bottle. It’s a beautiful example of the positive effects of aging. Tannins are still there, but they’ve become dusty and soft. The wine shows a complex melange of flavors as black tea, cinnamon, and dried herb. You can also sense the flavors of balsamic, and earthy mushrooms that have developed over the years. Just loved this with my Korean short ribs the other day.