2021 Frank Cornelissen, Munjebel Terre Siciliane, Sicily, Italy

Producer: Belgian Frank Cornelissen’s estate was established in 2001 along the slopes of Mt Etna. Son of a wine broker and collector, an approach to life that he later followed. Had an “a-ha” moment during a lunch with Giusto Occhipinti (the “O” in COS) then returned in a few months to start his own winery as Azienda Agricola Frank Cornelissen. While his first wines showed intense funk and oxidative faults, he quickly matured into a more nuanced and finessed natural wine producer.

Place: 24 hectares located on the north side of Mount Etna, winery based in the village of Passopisciaro. The estate includes 13 hecatres of bush-vine trained old vines, 9 hectares of old vines transformed into modern rows, 2 hectares of olives in addition to fruit trees. Many of the vines are on ungrafted rootstock and planted interspersed with fruit trees and buckwheat.

Cultivation: The Cornelissen farming philosophy is based on the fact that man will never be able to understand nature’s full complexities and interactions. No treatments on their cultivated land.

Varietal: 100% Nerello Mascalese

Bottling: ‘Munjabel’ Etna Rosso ‘Classico’

Soil: Munjabel Rosso is blended from several vineyard sites, including the ungrafted vines of 620m Chiusa Spagnolo. Igneous soil, volcanic rocks mixed with sand.

Winemaking: Most harvests are started late into the season, fermented in neutral tubs, 50 days on skins, aged 12 months in neutral epoxy tanks.

Tasting Notes: Power-packed – Lively & Structured – Fragrant