I Custodi - Etna Bianco ‘Aedes’ 2024 (750ml)
Price: $38.99
| Producer | I Custodi |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Varietal | Carricante, Catarratto, Grecanico, Minella |
| Vintage | 2024 |
| Sku | 206815 |
| Size | 750ml |
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I Custodi Description
I Custodi has their winery and the majority of their 12 hectares on the northern slope, in the contrade of Moganazzi (Aetneus bottling of oldest vines and others for Pistus), and Feudo di Mezzo (Saeculare bottling of their oldest vines of 150 years old and more). The northern slope is known to be one of the driest, coldest, and with the most concentration of the more elegant Nerello grape variety, Nerello Mascalese. Northern slope reds have long tannins, providing great vertical structure to the wines, not unlike the best Nebbiolo wines.
For the white wines, I Custodi has most of their most interesting vineyards on the southeastern slope, in the Contrada Taverna, just above the famous area of Milo. Here the air is humid and salty, with wafts of air coming up from the from the Ionian Sea below. Even if Milo is officially demarcated as the Etna Superiore area, perhaps here just a bit north of Milo, the Carricante grapes are even healthier with the extra wind. It’s here that the Ante bottling comes from; a stark and mineral-volcanic driven wine, appreciated but those seeking terroir purity. Imbris is the Etna Superiore bottling in Milo, here complexity reigns, with a bit extra weight and gravitas coming from extended lees contact.
Etna is beyond the ‘cool kid’ phase, and we’re starting to see the best producers emerge, in what is now recognized by all as a world-class growing area, capable of making delicious and savoury wines, but also world-class ones . I Custodi has been on the Etna journey from the beginning, and dedicating themselves every year to tending the vineyards, and the wine in the cellar. They’ve managed to do what few producers have: channel the raw emotion of these active volcanic wines, but also to preserve the aromatics and structure of old vine vineyards, give them plenty of bottle time before release.
It’s worth noting that the majority of vineyard holdings (46.8% ) are less than 1 hectare on Etna, and rent external space for vinification and bottling, usually giving mixed results.
Aedes = Contrada Moganazzi
