Monteleone 2022 Etna Rosso Qubba 750mL

The Cuba contrada is named for the byzantine era Church adjacent the vineyard. It's fitting to have such history overlooking these 90 year old vines. The name of the wine, Qubba, is due to a quirk of global trade. The US government kept holding up Monteleone's shipments to their US importer because they thought it might be contraband from the country of Cuba. 

A single vineyard field blend of 90% Nerello Mascalese and 10% Nerello Cappuccio, this is a wonderful Etna Rosso from a hot year. It's a well developed wine even this early in its life. The fruit is plump and ripe, with black cherries and strawberry jam. You'll get some smoky meat and something similar to walking through an old barrel cellar on the nose. The length is extraordinary. Nice chewy tannins. This feels like it will develop nicely over the next 5-10 years with the oak and tannins continuing to integrate with the fruit, if you can wait. And just to reiterate, the finish is ridiculously long and delicious.

From the northern slopes of Etna, within the Castiglione di Sicilia town-limits, 500m above sea level. Classic Etna volcanic soil, with 5% clay from the nearby Alcantara river.  

Harvested by hand in the early morning to maximise freshness of the fruit. Ageing is in French oak tonneaux for 16 months, followed by 2 months in concrete, and a final 6 months in bottle before release.

If you have a meat smoker at home, open one of these next time you get it out.