Alta Mora is a winery from the Cusumano family where grapes are grown and harvested on the slopes of the active volcano, Mt. Etna, in Sicily. It has been a lifelong dream for the Cusumano brothers to build a winery among these black, fertile and dynamic soils. The Alta Mora name represents the great heights of the vineyards on the mountain and the dark, black volcanic soil. The volcano itself is nearly 11,000ft high and vineyards are planted up to 4,000ft. Alta Mora Etna Rosso is 100% Nerello Mascalese grapes - indigenous to Sicily and the predominant red grape of Mt. Etna. Many wine enthusiasts compare this wine to a Nebbiolo or Pinot Noir. The deeply colored, thick-skinned grapes contribute rich fruit, firm tannins and vibrant acidity.
Alta Mora Etna Rosso is a ruby red color. Spicy pepper aromas with black currant and hints of mountain herbs. Vibrant and intense with well-integrated tannins.
92 Vinous The 2022 Etna Rosso has an exotic edginess as a burst of blood orange and rosemary combine with smoldering embers and wild strawberries. Juicy and vividly ripe in style, this finds balance through a saturation of autumnal spices that mingle with edgy tannins toward the close. The 2022 is gently tannic yet full of tension, with depths of lingering primary concentration. This is well done, showing a level of complexity that punches well above its price point.
90 Decanter From one hectare of Nerello Mascalese at 750m in Contrada Solicchiata on Etna's northern side. The grapes spend one night in the cellar to cool them before a soft pressing. Vinified using the same yeast as for the Carricante – the result of three years of research – the wine is then matured for four months in stainless steel tanks. Delicate, saline and gastronomic, it has a good intensity of cherry and garrigue with a stony mid-palate, then some darker fruits and a touch of refreshing bitterness on the finish.
