Benanti Etna Bianco Superiore Pietra Marina 2020

Benanti Etna Bianco Superiore Pietra Marina 2020 is one of the benchmark white wines of Mount Etna, showcasing just how refined and ageworthy Carricante can be. Sourced from old vines on the volcano’s eastern slopes, this is a crystalline, mineral-driven white with a compelling balance of tension and depth. Long considered a reference point for Etna Bianco, Pietra Marina brings together volcanic terroir, meticulous winemaking, and a truly distinctive personality.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2020 Pietra Marina is pale straw yellow with greenish reflections, hinting at both youth and vibrancy. The nose opens slowly and precisely, with aromas of lemon zest, grapefruit pith, green apple and white flowers layered over crushed rock, flint and sea spray. Subtle notes of wild herbs, anise, and a gentle smoky edge underline its volcanic origin. On the palate, this wine is taut, linear and intensely mineral. Bright, racy acidity drives flavors of citrus, green plum and salted pear, interwoven with saline notes, wet stone, and delicate almond. The texture is at once firm and refined, with impressive length and a lingering, mouthwatering finish that feels almost saline. Still youthful in 2020, Pietra Marina has significant aging potential—10–15 years or more in a good cellar—during which it will gain complexity, bringing out layers of honey, chamomile, dried herbs and more pronounced nuttiness while maintaining its remarkable freshness.

Production
Pietra Marina is crafted from 100% Carricante grown on the eastern slopes of Mount Etna, around the commune of Milo—one of the most prized areas for Etna Bianco Superiore. Here, old vines rooted in sandy, volcanic soils at high altitude benefit from strong diurnal temperature swings and constant maritime breezes from the Ionian Sea, giving naturally high acidity and a pronounced mineral profile. Grapes are hand-harvested, typically later than many other Sicilian whites, to achieve optimal ripeness while preserving tension. After gentle pressing, fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel to protect the purity of fruit and terroir expression. The wine is then aged on fine lees in tank for an extended period, with regular bâtonnage as appropriate, before further refinement in bottle, resulting in a precise, structured and ageworthy expression of Etna’s unique landscape.

Food & Serving
This is a brilliant gastronomic white, particularly well-suited to seafood and elegant, subtly flavored dishes. Think crudo, oysters, grilled prawns, octopus, or simply prepared white fish with citrus and herbs, as well as linguine alle vongole, seafood risotto, or Sicilian dishes featuring fennel and citrus. It also pairs beautifully with fresh goat cheese, burrata, vegetable tempura and delicate vegetable-based antipasti. Serve chilled but not too cold, ideally around 10–12°C (50–54°F), to let the aromatics fully unfurl. Decanting for 30–45 minutes is recommended in its youth to help the wine open up, especially if served within the first few years of the vintage.

Producer
Benanti is one of the pioneering estates of Mount Etna and a key force behind the region’s international renaissance. Founded by Giuseppe Benanti in the late 1980s, the winery was among the first to focus seriously on quality, terroir-driven expressions of Etna’s native varieties, particularly Nerello Mascalese and Carricante. Working with high-altitude, old-vine parcels on the volcano’s varied slopes, Benanti helped define the modern identity of Etna wines and has been widely acclaimed by critics and sommeliers around the world. Pietra Marina, in particular, is regarded as a flagship Etna Bianco Superiore and a reference for what volcanic white wine from Sicily can achieve in terms of precision, minerality and longevity.

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