A map of Etna showing the history of lava flows; the bright red are the most recent.

New from Etna: Cornelissen in stock

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The Cornelissen single-vineyard wines are all made the same way: the grapes are de-stemmed and fermentations are started with a pied-de-cuve of indigenous yeasts. Fermentation and maceration last for about 50 days; the wine is then aged in tank for 18 months and in bottle for 18 months. The wines are gently filtered, and very small quantities of S02 are used (final levels at 15-50mg/liter)*. Thus the only difference between the crus are terroir-based (elevation, exposure, soil composition), and the age of the vines. The wines provide an intimate illustration of the diversity of Etna, and are strong representations of the fundamentally wild nature of the place.

*This insures that the wines are stable enough to ship safely; like all low-S02 wine they still need to be properly handled, but Frank says that this has eliminated the faulty bottles that some of us encountered in the early years for the wines in the US.

 

Now in need of updating: a map of the Cornelissen vineyards.                                                                                

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Cornelissen, Frank 2020 Etna Rosso (not Rosato!) Susucaru

The Cornelissen Susucaru Rosso is always a lovely color and the 2020 is no exception, showing a captivating red cherry color with shades of blood orange. On the nose is dense with wild fruits, like raspberry and cherry, with great herbal nuance and hints of earthy smoke. The palate is not as juicy as the color would suggest, with a bitter snap of small red berries and dark citrus. The finish is highly mineral, showing a flash of graphite after the fruit subsides. Structure is refreshing, with well-placed but light tannin and healthy acidity. David Hatzopoulos 

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  • $33.99

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  • $79.99

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  • $219.99

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Cornelissen, Frank 2020 Terre Siciliane (Etna) Munjabel Rosso

Compared to the Susucaru, the Munjabel is a heartier black cherry in color, though still fresh and clean in the glass. Aromatically, this Etna red is ripe with red flowers and plump fruits. Plum and cherry lay the base for more acute aromas of smoke and herbs. An airy spice develops on the nose after hours open. Complex and enticing. The palate is generous and soft, with red plum, cherry, and mature strawberry, with a cool saltiness that runs through the fruit. The finish shows a flavorful dash of black pepper. A chewiness in structure that I love, with lapping depth, and high acidity. This is a knock-out wine that hits all the marks! David Hatzopoulos

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  • $49.99

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Cornelissen, Frank 2018 Terre Siciliane (Etna) Barbabecchi

BB = Barbabecchi – 100 year-old vines, 870 meters above sea level; 1,500 bottles produced. Barbabecchi is the Magma vineyard; Cornelissen didn’t bottle Magma in 2018, but instead made this single-vineyard BB.

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  • $119.99

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Cornelissen, Frank 2018 Terre Siciliane (Etna) Calderara Sotana

CD = Contrada Calderara Sottana – 40 year-old vines, 610 meters above sea level; 1200 bottles produced. CD sees a little longer on the skins than the other crus. Cornelissen writes “The wines are generally more feminine combining elegance and in the best cases the wines are profound.”

A lovely pomegranate color in the glass. The nose is earthy, with aromas of freshly tilled garden soil and dry ash wafting above a foundation of red cherry. Flavor-wise, plump blueberries, red apple, and cherry form the base of this wine, with black pepper and green stems adding nuance to the fruit. The finish is terrific, showing mint and spice. High acidity is softened by simple but very well-placed tannin. A very engaging and flavorful red, definitely the ripest of this vintage's single vineyards that we've had the chance to taste. David Hatzopoulos

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  • $84.99

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Cornelissen, Frank 2018 Terre Siciliane (Etna) Campo Re

CR = Contrada Campo Re – 70 year-old vines, 730 meters above sea level; 2000 bottles produced.

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Cornelissen, Frank 2018 Terre Siciliane (Etna) Chiusa Spagnola

CS = Chiusa Spagnola – 90 year old vines, 620 meters above sea level. Frank says Chiusa Spagnola produces wines that are "perfumed and tannic; lighter in color and more backward and Nebbiolo-ish compared to the other crus". 2500 bottles produced.

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Cornelissen, Frank 2018 Terre Siciliane (Etna) Feudo di Mezzo

FM = Feudo di Mezzo. 40 year-old vines, 580 meters above sea level.  A 'feudo' is a farm; the Feudo di Mezzo is a large farm (now with many different owners), and this is from the lower ("Sottana") part of the farm. Frank writes: "Although lower in the valley floor, the wines are of an unusual elegance which characterizes this area. Relatively deep soil which, in humid vintages can create some problems although the well ventilated site helps to get ripeness. Burgundian elegance and roundness, even in hot vintages makes this a special wine with finesse as it’s personality."  2500 bottles produced.

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Cornelissen, Frank 2018 Terre Siciliane (Etna) Feudo di Mezzo Porcaria

PA = Feudo di Mezzo – Porcaria. 60 year-old vines, 640 meters above sea level - from the higher part of Feudo di Mezzo. Frank writes "A challenging location in order to achieve perfection in maturation. It has the power as well as refined elegance... A complete wine."  2000 bottles produced.

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Cornelissen, Frank 2018 Terre Siciliane (Etna) Monte Colla

MC = Monte Colla – 70 year old vines, 750-780 meters above sea level. Cornelissen writes: "An extremely steep and terraced vineyard, beautifully exposed to sun and wind and right in front of Mount Etna. The sandy clay soil and the old-vine Nerello Mascalese, planted in 1946, produces a rich and powerful wine, maintaining elegance. Our “Hermitage” of Etna." 2000 bottles produced.

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  • $89.99

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Cornelissen, Frank 2018 Terre Siciliane (Etna) Puntalazzo

PU = Contrada Puntalazzo – 20 year-old vines, 610 meters above sea level. This is Frank’s only vineyard on the east side of Etna, facing the sea (the same area where Benanti, Biondi, Monte Rosso, and other great wines are made). Our tasting – the first time we’ve tried this wine – confirmed Frank’s opinion: “The wines have an atmosphere which resembles the surroundings, fragrant, elegant, nearly fragile and of a rare beauty.”

In the glass, this wine has a clear cherry color. It is a crisper hue than the standard Munjebel. On the nose, it is the most floral of Cornelissen's single vineyard '18s that we've tasted so far. Along with red flowers, aromas of small forest berries are accented with light smoke, fresh basil and a hint of balsamic. On the tongue, there is a clean mineral drive and a dual fruit profile of both red cherry and dark citrus - before a springy, grassy finish. The structure here is zippy, with a healthy edge and just a dash of tannin. David Hatzopoulos

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Cornelissen, Frank nv Terre Siciliane (Etna) Perpetuum 1

P1 = Cuvee Perpetuum – 60+ year-old vines, 600-800 meters above sea level. A new wine! “The first bottlings of our MunJebel® rosso classico were blends of 2 vintages which I have always liked as it gives a good idea of a larger area instead of a vintage wine. When I stopped blending vintages as of the 2012 vintage to search for more precision, I kind of missed the evolved “old-school” style of the first wines I produced and so I decided in 2016 to produce a similar style wine again, applying the “perpetual” method of great solera wines. The first edition will be a blend of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019. We will be bottling 25% of this first edition in 2021 and adding the selected wine of the 2020 vintage to fill up the tank again. Perpetuum is born!”

An auburn color in the glass, very reminiscent of Nebbiolo. On the nose, smells of wet ash and dried red cherry. There is a softness to the bouquet, broad and savory. On the palate, plummy red fruit is scored by a dark beam of minerality and enhanced by a fresh, airy smokiness. A finish of rich stone fruit underlines the wine's surprisingly full structure. High acid with a bit of chew, the P1 is impressive in mouthfeel. David Hatzopoulos

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  • $119.99

  • Organic
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