BB | Garnet to tawny, pink rim. Compact, ripe nose, with tar, black cherry, prune, truffle, forest floor, and cedar wood. Medium-to-full body, layered, with fine, exuberant tannins and a long, complex, sweet black-fruit finish. 95
AJ | Very deeply colored for this tasting, and when benchmarked against its younger peers: deep, intense black-red, though translucent. Rather gruff, earthy, and medicinal in aroma. Characterful, but lacks a little enchantment. But with air... Gosh: grand and stentorian here. Very richly constituted fruit; substantial tannins; lots of drive and force, albeit still in high-altitude style. Densely and compellingly fruited. Plenty to chew over! I really like it, I have to say, though those who are flocking to Etna with Pinot dreams may find it it a bit barrel-chested. For me, a satisfying and substantial wine, with a huge amount to offer, which is holding very well, though this style may not be where the future lies. Or is it a question of site? Anyway, a great wine, holding well. 94
MP | A very plump and ripe nose, with obvious, cooked red and black fruit, including cherry, plum, strawberry, and Christmas cake. The spicy oak is now integrated into this wine and the medicinal character on the finish, combined with the astringent tannins, fuel the argument that this region really has no idea what Etna Rosso ought to look like. Sadly, not one for the cellar. 84