Fessina Musmeci Etna Bianco 2013
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Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This has lemon curd as well as fresh cut grass and a melony undertone. The palate is on the dry end with a rigid texture and super salty overall feeling.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Etna Bianco Superiore il Musmeci is a vineyard-designate wine from the Milo area of Etna. This is a very different white wine compared to Tenuta di Fessina's Etna Bianco A' Puddara (despite the fact I scored these wines the same). The oak fermented Il Musmeci is feather light in consistency with a very citrus-driven bouquet of grapefruit and bergamot. But look closely and the wine reveals its complexity with studied precision. It opens to show mineral, grilled herb and caper blossom. That citrusy feel continues to the mouth where the wine delivers a pretty burst of sour lime and white flower. That acidity should bode well for short term aging.
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Wine Spectator
A sleek, mouthwatering white, with an open-knit mix of crunchy pear, white peach, lemon preserves and lanolin flavors, underscored by a streak of smoky mineral that lingers on the well-cut finish. Drink now through 2021.
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Wine Enthusiast
Attractive aromas of dried Spanish broom, mature white fruit, flint and a whiff of savory herb lead the nose on this round, juicy wine. On the palate, candied citrus, mineral and nectarine zest add depth to a core of mature pear and creamy apple. It's balanced with just enough freshness.
LOCATION OF VINEYARD
Tenuta di Fessina is located in Rovittello, a small, picturesque village in the heart of Castiglione di Sicilia. The estate lies in the shadows of Mt. Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, which adds to the mystique of this incredible property.
There are hundreds of white grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles.
A large, geographically and climatically diverse island, just off the toe of Italy, Sicily has long been recognized for its fortified Marsala wines. But it is also a wonderful source of diverse, high quality red and white wines. Steadily increasing in popularity over the past few decades, Italy’s fourth largest wine-producing region is finally receiving the accolades it deserves and shining in today's global market.
Though most think of the climate here as simply hot and dry, variations on this sun-drenched island range from cool Mediterranean along the coastlines to more extreme in its inland zones. Of particular note are the various microclimates of Europe's largest volcano, Mount Etna, where vineyards grow on drastically steep hillsides and varying aspects to the Ionian Sea. The more noteworthy red and white Sicilian wines that come from the volcanic soils of Mount Etna include Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio (reds) and Carricante (whites). All share a racy streak of minerality and, at their best, bear resemblance to their respective red and white Burgundies.
Nero d’Avola is the most widely planted red variety, and is great either as single varietal bottling or in blends with other indigenous varieties or even with international ones. For example, Nero d'Avola is blended with the lighter and floral, Frappato grape, to create the elegant, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, one of the more traditional and respected Sicilian wines of the island.
Grillo and Inzolia, the grapes of Marsala, are also used to produce aromatic, crisp dry Sicilian white. Pantelleria, a subtropical island belonging to the province of Sicily, specializes in Moscato di Pantelleria, made from the variety locally known as Zibibbo.