In Italy, when venturing outside the main vinous areas of Piedmont and Tuscany, one can be wowed at almost every turn by small growers making seriously fine artisan wine in the less well known regions.
We are delighted to shine the light on two of our favourite producers - both on Sicily. We think they represent some of the most exciting wines being made in Italy at the moment.
Frank Cornelissen, Sicily
This superb Sicilian estate is making hand crafted individual wines from bush vines on the slopes of Mount Etna. They are organic and bio-dynamic. Each cuvee comes from different parts of Etna's slopes, and on average just 1600 cases are made of each wine.
2016 Munjebel Rosso CS
£225 per six IB
The Munjebel Rosso CS is made from 100% ungrafted bush vines producing Nerello Mascalese. The vines are planted in an amphitheatre at lower altitude than the other vines. These factors make this the lightest in colour of all the crus and similar to Nebbiolo in style. This is a brilliant introduction to the estate. The CS on the label stands for Chiusa Spagnolo. Drink now to 2025.
2016 Munjebel Rosso PA
£225 per six IB
Again, pure Nero Mascalese, but from a wilder higher vineyard site (PA stands for cru Porcaria). The vines are on average 60 years old. The PA is richer, more structured wine than the CS. Drink now to 2025.
2016 Munjebel Rosso VA
£225 per six IB
Once again pure Nero Mascalese. The VA stands for Vigne Alte and these vines are at the highest elevation on the estate, almost at 1000 metres of altitude. This is most Burgundian of all the wines, hauntingly pure and vivid with a certain Sicilian wildness! Simply brilliant. Drink now to 2025.
2016 Munjebel Bianco
£295 per 12 IB
The Bianco 'classico' is a blend of 50% Grecanico Dorato and 50% Carricante. The grapes are very lightly crushed making this a perfect aperitivo wine. Again, pure and with dense fruit. Drink now.
Gulfi, Sicily
On the extreme tip of south-eastern Sicily, in Val di Noto. Gulfi has only been producing wine for a short while. In that time it has proven to make some of the most exciting wines in Sicily. Similar to Cornelissen, the old bush vines are grown on volcanic soil. These vines are hugely influenced by the sea breeze coming on to the vineyards. The main grape grown is Nero d'Avola.
2015 Nero Bufaleffj
£150 per six IB
The vineyard of Bufaleffj could not be more different to those of Frank Cornelissen. At only 50 metres altitude this vineyard is part of an ancient volcanic trench and the wines are brilliantly rich, but with a mineral freshness. Drink 2021-2028.
2015 Nero Sanlore
£150 per six IB
The Sanlore vineyard is only 700 metres from the sea and has an altitude of just 10 metres. The lighter soil here makes for fresher cleaner wines. These can be drunk earlier from 2020 to 2027.