L'Ardenza Cottanera

A rich, elegant and persistent wine, L'Ardenza is a pure Mondeuse, a vine from the Haute-Savoie that has found the perfect conditions in the extraordinary terroir of Etna to give us this fascinating red wine.

Classification: DOC Sicilia

Grape variety: 100% Mondeuse

Production area: Contrada Cottanera, Contrada Feudo di Mezzo in the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia

Altitude: 750 m asl

Soil: lava

Training system: espalier

Average age of vines: 25 years

Vine density: 5700 plants/ha

Yield: 65 quintals/ha

Harvest: manual with small crates; second ten days of October

Vinification: destemming and maceration with skin contact at controlled temperature, 26-28°C, for about 25-30 days

Fermentation: at controlled temperature, 26-28°C, with constant pumping of must over grapes and wine-pressing. Malolactic fermentation in 225 lt French oak barrels

Aging: 14-16 months in medium and heavy toast French oak barrels (60% new). Followed by 18 months aging in bottle

Alcohol content: 13.5% vol

Colour: ruby red

Nose: a fresh vegetal note introduces intense and fruity hints of marasca, cherry and blueberry, which blend well with the pleasant and elegant balsamic, mineral and spicy notes

Palate: it is pleasantly fat, supported by high quality thick tannins and a pleasant sapid note. The finish is long and very persistent

Pairings: first courses with meat, lamb, aged cheeses

Produced and bottled by Cottanera S.r.l. - Castiglione di Sicilia (CT) - Italy