Tenuta di Castellaro Nero Ossidiana 2017

Drink now through to 2028. No need to decant before serving.

Tenuta di Castellaro is set on the enchanting Aeolian island of Lipari off the north coast of Sicily. The estate was founded in 2013 by entrepreneur Massimo Lentsch who already had a successful winery in Dubrovnik, but fell in love with the island while on holiday here. In total the estate has 20 acres scattered across the island in inaccessible locations overlooking the shimmering Medtierranean Sea.

Tenuta di Castellaro is the largest winery on the island and prides itself on having a very low environmental impact with minimal use of herbicides in the vineyards. In the winery gravity is used instead of pumps to move the wine around, and fermentation takes place using wild yeasts. The volcanic soils are rich in stones like pumice and obsidian and are perfectly suited to the traditional local grape varieties planted here including Malvasia delle Lipari and Nero d’Avola.

This striking red is crafted from Carricante and Nero d’Avola grapes which are vinified without temperature control with a lengthy maceration on the skins. The young wine is then matured in used casks for 2-3 months followed by a further 7-8 months of bottle ageing. The result is an elegant and complex red which is bursting with ripe red cherry, redcurrant and hints of minerality. A gentle balance between fine tannins and refreshing acidity make this a great match for classic Italian dishes like lasagne, aubergine parmigiana, or even a spicy pepperoni pizza.