- 100% Nerello mascalese
- Production area: contrada San Lorenzo, township of Randazzo (Catania)
- Extension of the vineyard: 8 ha with yields of 5 tons/ha
- Deep volcanic soil with some stones
- Exposure: Northern slope of the Mount Etna, 700-750 meters a.s.l.
- 50 – 100-year-old vines
- Harvested in the first ten days of October
- Vinification: alcoholic fermentation under controlled temperature (28-30° C)
- Aging: spontaneous malolactic fermentation and aging in French oak barriques, tonneaux.
- Bottling after 16-18 months of wood aging and 1 month in steel.
- Annual production: 900 9L cases
The terroir in contrada San Lorenzo is originated by lava flows and volcanoclastic deposits related to the explosive activity of the the Ellittico eruptive center, which dates back from 60,000 to 15,000 years ago. Although very young by geological standards, the soils from the Ellittico eruption are the oldest superficial strata in which one may plant on Etna. The reason is simple: millennia of lava flows have buried all older soils, leaving, in fact, only very small and rare parcels of Ellittico soils. On the northern slopes of Etna there are four or five Contrade that have terroir from the Ellittico. Three, however, have mixed soils, blending soil from Ellittico of igneous nature with alluvial soils of sedimentary nature due to the overflowing of the Alcantara river. Only two Contrade out of hundreds and hundreds are “pure” terroir Ellittico: Calderara and San Lorenzo.
Info
Producer:
Vintage:
2022
Country:
Italy
Region:
Sicily
Appellation:
Etna Rosso
Variety:
Nerello Mascalese
Color:
Red
Farming Practice:
Practicing Organic
Sizes Available
| Full Bottle | IT-TTN-30-22 | 12/750ml |
Press & Reviews
James Suckling
Score
97
Date
2024-10-22
"On the nose and the palate, wonderful cherry-blossom and rose-petal characters to the dark cherries and sliced blood oranges. Medium- to full-bodied with balance and intensity, this goes on for minutes. The citrus is hypnotizing. Drink or hold."
Wine Advocate
Score
96
Date
2025-04-17
"Made with 100% Nerello Mascalese, the Tenuta delle Terre Nere 2022 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo is one of the top single-vineyard expressions from this prolific and visionary Italian producer. This celebrated site sits at 700 meters in elevation and boasts the deep ashy volcanic soils that make for the best farming. This wine does indeed reveal dusty ashy tones at the top with pretty wild fruit and dark cherry at the core. The wine is open-knit and textured with a glossy or polished feel. This release of 8,000 bottles ages in a combination of tonneaux and barrique for 16 months."
Kerin O'Keefe
Score
95
Date
2024-07-01
"Spicy and structured, the Tenuta delle Terre Nere 2022 San Lorenzo is a stunning wine, starting with its enticing aromas of Mediterranean scrub, lavender, eucalyptus, wild berry and spice. Elegant and structured, the linear palate delivers ripe raspberry, juniper berry, liquor-soaked cherries, star anise and crushed mint alongside close-grained tannins. Hailing from one of the coolest microclimates on the volcano, it has vibrancy and tension while a salty mineral note lingers on the finish. What a beautiful wine. Drink 2026–2034. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O'Keefe July 2024"
Vinous
Score
95
Date
2024-06-20
"Remarkably pretty, the 2022 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo wafts up with an array of dried flowers, cloves and lavender. Lifted and finessed, this opens with a hint of candied orange that enlivens its core of tart wild berries. Brisk acidity keeps the experience fresh throughout. Staining the palate in concentration, the San Lorenzo tapers off gently tannic and crunchy in feel, leaving gorgeous floral perfumes to linger on. This is the understated darling of the Terre Nere portfolio, and I expect that cellaring will bring even more complexity."
Wine Spectator
Score
94
Date
2025-01-15
"A well-spiced version, with warmed cherry and plum fruit flavors structured by fine, taut tannins and lively, blood orange peel–infused acidity. There's a silky plushness to the texture as this red carries notes of sandalwood, fresh earth, mineral, macchia and paprika on the lasting finish. Drink now through 2040. —A.N."
REVIEWS FROM PAST VINTAGES
2021
Decanter
Score
96
Date
2023-10-31
"Cool San Lorenzo is at the northwestern edge of the Etna DOC at around 800 metres, situated on some of the oldest surface soils on Etna †ÿfrom the Elliptical volcano activity of 15,000 to 60,000 years ago †ÿrich in ash and black pumice. Due to its uniqueness, Terre Nere have dubbed their San Lorenzo bottling (from 70- to 100-year-old vines) as ÁGrande Terroir Ellittico, and consider it one of their grand crus. Fresh, floral and fragrant, it offers wafts of violet and lavender, cocoa, earth and black cherry. In the mouth its fine web of tannins and razor-sharp acidity provide tension for the ripe, balsamic hedgerow fruits to bounce off. Succulent and sapid with a very stony mid-palate, it displays excellent balance and depth, with incredible freshness and staying power."
2021
James Suckling
Score
95
Date
2023-07-20
2021
Wine Spectator
Score
93
Date
2023-10-25
2020
James Suckling
Score
96
Date
2022-08-12
2019
Vinous
Score
95
Date
2021-12-03
2019
Wine Enthusiast
Score
95
Date
2021-10-11
2019
James Suckling
Score
94
Date
2021-09-14
2019
Wine Spectator
Score
91
Date
2022-02-04