Frank Cornelissen 'Munjebel' 2018 (red)

Frank Cornelissen , 'Munjebel ' 2018 (red)

Nerello Mascalese

Sicily, Italy

“Rain and cool weather continued after spring into summer with August being the wettest month in the last 18 vintages… the complete opposite compared to 2017. Many of the higher vineyards have not produced high enough quality of grapes to make it into the single vineyard wines and there will be no Magma in 2018 either. Our crop thinning was done too late also as we were indecisive with the wet summer. Together with 2003, this is by far the worst vintage we had so far. But a great learning school where we applied all our skills and equipment for selecting and pulling the best out of this tragedy.
I decided to use sulphur for the first time on all the 2018 wines in order to protect the wines from disintegrating rapidly. An apparent radical choice, but after 18 vintages of experience, this was for me the right choice.
The red wines are very light in color, fragile as well as tight with little extraction and low alcohol.

A rich and fragrant wine of pure Nerello Mascalese from different vineyards, partly from our best parcels where we produce our crus (Zottorinoto-Chiusa Spagnolo, Feudo di Mezzo-sottana and Porcaria) as well as designated vineyards for this specific wine (Rampante sottana, Piano Daini and Crasà). A classic, traditional Nerello Mascalese with tannins and sweetness of ripe fruit. My vision of a traditional, balanced and rich Northern Valley Etna wine.” -Frank Cornelissen