The fruit in this release of 2,165 bottles is drawn from the Contrada Sciaranuova, located in the village of Randazzo, known for its excellent vineyards and pistachio groves. We're climbing up the volcano here with vineyards at 850 meters in elevation and planted in much newer soils created with a lava flow that occurred two centuries ago. In fact, "Sciaranuova" means "new lava flow." These vineyards are positioned toward the northern side of the volcano and are associated with delicate and elegant expressions, which is definitely the case with this Nerello Mascalese. The Passopisciaro Vini Franchetti 2018 Contrada S reveals tight cherries and berry fruits framed by ash, smoke and tarry spice. It is streamlined and lean to the palate with very finely polished tannins. This wine should flesh out nicely with more time in bottle.

"S" is for Sciaranuova, a contrade named after its "new lava flow." The 2017 Contrada S shows some nice fruit, cherry in particular, with drying volcanic and ashen tones at the back. Smoke, tar and licorice rise like fumes from the elegant bouquet. There is a note of white pepper as well that you get in some Etna reds, especially old vines of Nerello Mascalese with a tiny bit of Nerello Cappuccio planted within. Production of this wine is 2,450 bottles.

The 2016 Contrada S sees fruit sourced from the Contrada Sciaranuova vineyard. The wine delivers dark fruit at the core that is framed elegantly by ash, smoke and dark volcanic mineral. Contrada S is balanced and very tight in terms of its texture. That tightness suggests a year or two of bottle aging may be required before this wine really starts to shine. Bottle production is limited with only 2,300 units made.

The 2014 Contrada S (with fruit from the Sciaranuova vineyard) offers a bright ruby color and deep color saturation that is characteristic of this exuberant vintage. Perhaps the intensity of the bouquet is a notch or two lower compared to some of the other wines in this series. But those aromas do build in momentum as the wine opens in the glass. You get dried fruit, plum, crushed mineral and exotic spice.

From the Sciaranuova vineyard, the 2013 Contrada S is light in appearance and a bit edgy or sharp in terms of its aromatic delivery. The bouquet reveals brambly aromas of wild berry, cherry cola and rosemary sprig. The fruit intensity is downplayed and the wine's mineral definition is underlined as a result. It leaves the strongest imprint. The finish is dry and very streamlined. Like all these other single-vineyard expressions, the wine ages in large oak casks.