From the Contrade Rampant at 1,000 meters above sea level, the 2012 Contrada R is a finely nuanced and elegant wine. This is one of the last sites on Etna to reach maturity and therefore this wine benefits from a longer growing season. It also sees more acidity and a firmer quality of tannins that makes this bottle appropriate for long cellar aging. Small berry fruit, bitter almond, pressed violets and crushed stone are part of the bouquet. You can feel that extra astringency in the mouth for sure. Give Contrada R a good five years to flesh out further.