- 80% Nerello Mascalese, 20% blend of Nerello Cappuccio and Alicante
- Produced from the oldest vines within the Contrada Feudo di Mezzo (Castiglione di Sicilia)
- 600 meters above sea level with northern exposure
- 220 year-old vines
- Harvested at the beginning of October
- (80%) De-stemmed and crushed
- Maceration and spontaneous fermentation take place over 12 days in used oak
- Wine is transferred into 500-liter used tonneaux where malolactic fermentation occurs
- Aging in barrel for 36 months
- Refined in bottle for 36 months prior to release
- Approximately 267 cases produced annually
Info
Producer:
Vintage:
2016
Country:
Italy
Region:
Sicily
Appellation:
Etna Rosso
Variety:
Nerello Mascalese
Color:
Red
Farming Practice:
Practicing Organic
Sizes Available
| Full Bottle | IT-CUS-40-16 | 12/750ml |
Resources
Press & Reviews
Vinous
Score
97
Date
2026-09-10
"The 2016 Etna Rosso Riserva Saeculare impresses with fragrances of crushed ashen stone, smoke and animal musk before revealing dried black cherries and a balsamic inflection. It's surprisingly racy and refined with radiant red and black fruits and crunchy mineral undertones. A touch of blood orange mingles with hints of clove. The 2016 closes with edgy tannins, sour citrus and dramatic length and concentration. The Riserva Saeculare hails from vines up to 200 years old in the Feudo di Mezzo Contrada."
Wine Advocate
Score
94
Date
2026-09-10
"The I Custodi 2016 Etna Rosso Riserva Saeculare is made with 80% Nerello Mascalese, with the rest of the blend being Nerello Cappuccio and Alicante. It offers impressive depth and good complexity, showing lovely fruit and ripe layers of richness. Despite the warmth and generosity of the vintage, it remains remarkably young and fresh 10 years down the line."
REVIEWS FROM PAST VINTAGES
2014
Vinous
Score
94
Date
2025-05-01
"A whiff of Christmas spice gives way to wild blueberries and dusty dried flowers as the 2014 Etna Rosso Riserva Saeculare tempts the imagination. It is beautifully resolved with a silken gracefulness brought about through maturity. Cooling acidity guides ripe red berry fruits across the palate. A gentle tug of fine tannins remains as sour citrus, minerals and spice come together on the hauntingly dark and nicely balanced finale. This late release is a beautiful interpretation from one of Etna's landmark vintages."
2013
Wine Advocate
Score
95
Date
2023-06-30
"The I Custodi 2013 Etna Rosso Riserva Saeculare is a wine that stands out in this report. The bouquet is elegant and fine. The wine has evidently had ample time to flesh out and find balance with bottle aging. The tannins are silky and supple in texture. It drinks nicely right now, and there's no need to wait further. The blend has 80% Nerello Mascalese, but this Riserva also sees smaller percentages of Nerello Cappuccio, Alicante and other complementary grapes in the blend. These are ancient plants, a natural treasure to behold, with some vines reaching an almost unthinkable 250 years in age (on their original root stocks, of course) at 650 meters in elevation on the volcano. The wine ages slowly in tonneaux for four years and only 3,300 bottles of this precious wine exist."