I’ve enjoyed the Calabretta Etna Rosso for many years, and most recently have been drinking the 2004. I recently went back to Wine Exchange to “reload” on the wine, and discovered that it is now listed online as “Calabretta Nerello Mascalese, formerly Calabretta Etna Rosso”. I reordered the wine (2004 vintage), and upon arrival, it has a completely different label…which says “Nerello Mascalese”. This seems very strange, as I still have several bottles of presumably the SAME wine with a completely different label (the “Etna Rosso”).
Does anyone know if in fact these are the same wines, and if so, why they would “relabel” this with a new name in the middle of a vintage? Is it possible that these are two different 2004 wines? I haven’t yet tasted the new bottle, but will do so soon…
Not sure. But I believe that it still contains small amounts of Nerello Cappuccio. Most probably it was an attempt by the producer to give the main grape more visibility. Probably the same wine just a relabel. I sell the wine on and off as it is available. I will see if anyone knows for sure.
Calabretta is now bottling the wine as IGT “Nerello Mascalese Vigne Vecchie”. Seems as though the DOCG board de-classifies his wines from time-to-time. and rather than deal with that he can circumvent that by going IGT.
http://www.polanerselections.com/wine/calabretta-igt-nerello-mascalese-vigne-vecchie-etna-rosso-0
Interesting…I guess it mostly struck me as odd to change mid-vintage, so that there are two completely different bottles and designations for the exact same juice!
My understanding is that it’s the same wine, but they made a (curiously same-vintage) switch in the labeling and naming.
I just tried their Etna Bianco last night for the first time. $15 at Wine Exchange. It’s a nonvintage white made from Grillo (or so I read on CT), with most of the grapes coming from the 2009 vintage. It was a really nice Mediterranean style white, good value and interest at that price. Somewhat more in the Lopez de Heredia or Musar style than the typical Italian crisp white wine style, though maybe a touch riper than LdH or Musar.
Here’s what the importer had to say (thanks to Ian D)
We all know that Calabretta has a distinct style of Etna Rosso – aging much longer than most other producers – by at least double in most cases. Before anyone bottles Etna Rosso, like many other appellations, the tank/botte must be tasted by the DOC board to make sure it is in keeping with the style of the appellation. Usually one or two botti are rejected, even though Massimiliano clearly believes all of the wine he had dedicated to be Etna Rosso was of top quality and more than worthy of the appellation. So, with the 2004 and vintage and moving forward he has made the switch and has begun to bottle his “Etna Cuvee” as IGT Nerello Mascalese Vecchie Vigne. So, in the future there will not be anymore Calabretta Etna Rosso, this wine replaces it. Now, he doesn’t have to deal with the possibility of the DOC board rejecting one of his bottlings and he can bottle strictly according to his own ideals. This is a similar story to Elisabetta Foradori’s leaving the Teroldego Rotaliano appellation a few years back…
I have had many bottles of 2001, 2004 and this weekend the 2005. No major changes as far as I can tell, still a big, rustic wine with lots of character. One of my favorite QPRs of any region. Visited Calabretta 2 years ago, a gracious host and wonderful wines across the board.
Very cool info, thanks Daniel!
I do love this wine…