Sublime Sicilians

JamesSuckling.com’s five top-rated wines from the Italian island.

Benanti Etna Rosso Contrada Monte Serra 2019 97 POINTS

This has a pretty nose of dried sage, ash, cherry stones, lemon zest, Spanish cedar and lemon verbena. It’s medium-bodied with plenty of energy, ripeness and structure all at once.

Donnafugata Etna Rosso Contrada Montelaguardia Fragore 2018 97 POINTS

There’s a lot happening on the nose here. Black cherry, baked strawberry, charcoal, sage, bay leaf and smoked paprika. Full-bodied with tense tannins. Drinkable now, but still better in a year.

Frank Cornelissen Terre Siciliane Munjebel 2020 97 POINTS

What a wonderful red, with so much depth, softness and texture, offering red fruit, as well as dried lemon leaf and fresh basil. Layered, round and energetic. It delivers complexity with integrity.

Girolamo Russo Etna Rosso San Lorenzo Piano delle Colombe 2019 97 POINTS

This is a special bottling of 1,300 bottles from a small parcel of San Lorenzo. Extremely perfumed with roses and other flowers. Full-bodied and layered with ultra-fine tannins and lots of energy in the finish.

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino 2020 97 POINTS

Aromas of stone, clay, orange peel, dried sage, baked red cherry and moss. Mediumto full-bodied with tense tannins. So much to unpack.