With the Franchetti, we always have something very special, an exceptional rarity due to this very special grape variety composition. In its youth, the 50 percent Petit Verdot provides an overwhelming spiciness, black, brutally intense but without fat and jam, closed and dismissive with initially restrained fruit and fully on the spicy side. We find pepper, cinnamon stick, clove, a few herbal flowers in the finish. Overall, a stubborn wild horse that throws off every inexperienced rider. Simply everything is too much, too exhausting.

After a year or so in the cellar (already aged here for 4 years), the soft, dry elegant, complex, and harmonious grape variety Cesanese di Affile comes into its expression. Ruby red with purple fights its way through the black of Petit Verdot. Cesanese can represent a fine, complex counterpoint to Petit Verdot, similar to what Cabernet Franc can do. The Nerello Mascalese, which is actually native to the volcano here, would have simply been overwhelmed as a partner, and the Cabernet Franc would have too many ripening problems at this high altitude. The wine shows a powerful, spicy core on the palate, initially without specific fruit aromas, perhaps a bit of dried currant or cranberry, then a sweet core emerges along with an enormously soft tannin cushion, some cherry in balsamic cream with a touch of clove and vanilla bean behind it. What an incredibly unusual but so exciting wine! Andrea Franchetti, who also owns the cult winery Tenuta di Trinoro in the Brunello region, has an incredible knack for terroir and suitable grape varieties. Etna and this wine create another dimension.