The 2011 Reseca reflects the distinctive house style that characterizes the wines of Gulfi. This is a pure expression of Nerello Mascalese from Etna that showcases the ripe, succulent and enriched side of this otherwise lean and ethereal grape. Here you get dark lines and upfront aromas of dried prune, raisin and scorched earth that appear disjointed at first (although they eventually settle into place as you gain more familiarity with the offbeat bouquet). I retasted the 2010 vintage of this wine as I tasted this, and I remain convinced that the previous edition has a leg up on this wine.

The 2010 Reseca comes from a beautiful vineyard that looks like a secret garden because it is flanked on all sides by wild bush and bramble. Nerello Mascalese is planted in high density and the wine is aged in oak for 24 months. The 2010 vintage shows a great deal of plump and pretty fruit with blackberry, prune and Morello cherry. There is a touch of charred earth or toasted spice at the back. What makes this wine compelling is that it offers a good amount of soft fruit to sooth the palate.

Gulfi gave me the 2007 Reseca to taste to see how this wine performs after a brief period of cellar aging. The wine possesses a potent and vigorous approach with charred earth tones that sit heavy over the bouquet. In my opinion, those burnt notes go beyond what is characteristics of a wine with a such a strong volcanic footprint. The close is nicely textured with spice and dried fruit aromas. Interestingly, the bouquet does clean up after the bottle has been open for a while. I would suggest a brief decanting one or two hours before serving this wine.