Girolamo Rosso appears to be a well regarded producer in the Etna region in Sicily. In the glass, the 2017 ‘a Rina Etna Rosso has a typically pale red cordial like colour consistent with nerello mascalese. I would have liked to say something more precise as to the grape varieties in the wine. But looking at a few vendor websites, none clearly said what the grape varieties were. Mostly a mish-mash of information was presented, in various voices, where you couldn’t quite tell if they were general comments about the producer’s vineyards or a particular wine and vintage. The producer itself describes this label as having a contribution from 6% nerello cappuccio, but the accompanying picture is from the 2013 vintage, so it is perhaps not a definitive comment. On balance, I’d suggest it is most likely a nerollo mascelese with perhaps a tiny contribution from nerollo cappuccio and stick to what’s in the glass.

In the glass, there are attractive aromatics of strawberry, old cedar and spice. On the palate, the wine’s most distinctive features are its high, filmy tannins softened by ripe plum fruit and a between medium and full body. The length on the finish is towards long, and builds with time in the glass. Ready to drink now, it should benefit from 3-5 years in the cellar. Rating: Good to Very Good. Abv: 14.5. Price: $50s. Website: http://www.girolamorusso.it. Reviewed: March 2020.