So far, the best Etna Bianco that I’ve tasted. 100% Carricante; $39 on Wine.com; vineyards at 600M on the north slopes of Etna. But over the next few months, I’m going to taste many more.

Alta Mora – “nelle contrade alle pendici del vulcano” (from districts on the slopes of the volcano) – comes from the Cusumano brothers.

Like the other Etna Biancos, it was light gold in color, with a nose of apple, pear and ginger. No obvious signs of oak ageing. Round in the mouth, with medium+ acidity, it struck me as tasting very similar to the Planeta Chardonnay that helped me fall in love with Sicilian wine. There’s also a slight bitterness on the finish: chalk, almonds, oyster shell?