Etna Bianco Massimo Lentsch 2024
New arrivalsThe Etna Bianco by Massimo Lentsch is made from Carricante grapes harvested 600 meters above sea level. From the glass, aromas of white flowers, citrus, and apple emerge, complemented by fine hints of Mediterranean scrub herbs. A white wine of great savoriness, almost salty, very fresh but balanced by warmth and roundness, typical characteristics of a volcanic wine. Ideal with fish soups, also try it with grilled pork.
Etna Bianco is the expression of the most recent plantings by Massimo Lentsch, set up with the typical white grape of the Etna territory, namely Carricante. They extend near the site of the new underground winery, modern and extremely innovative, adjacent to the ancient palmento that marks the link with ancestral winemaking traditions deeply rooted in the history of this region.
The Carricante with which Massimo Lentsch produces his Etna Bianco comes from the vineyard called Feudo Gabelle, located in the Calderara Sottana area in the municipality of Randazzo, covering 4.5 hectares on the northern slope of the volcano. The young vines reside above a soil of varying composition, at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level: the lower part of the plot shows a stony composition of alluvial origin, derived from the Alcantara river that flows in the valley below, while the upper part consists of richly spread volcanic sands of lava blocks. The saplings are arranged in a quincunx pattern, that is, with a regular layout forming the classic number five of dice, with a planting density of 1.2 by 1.2
meters and densities of up to 7,000 vines per hectare. They are hand-harvested, with grape selection already underway during picking, and in the winery, the bunches are destemmed before being gently pressed. This is followed by a cold maceration for several hours on the skins and static decantation of the must: fermentation is then carried out by indigenous yeasts only, in stainless steel tanks. The aging on fine lees always takes place in steel, over a period of 6 months with periodic batonnage, before bottling and a final resting period in the bottle of about 4 months.The color of the Etna Bianco made by Massimo Lentsch is a bright straw yellow, with slight golden reflections. The nose captures delicate and complex aromas, characterized by hints of sweet white-fleshed fruit, citrus notes, and green apple, within a Mediterranean frame of herbal and white floral nuances. The palate is of tense mineral verticality, distinctively volcanic in its smoky references and well-defined by a lively freshness that accompanies a part of mature softness.