Vino di Anna ‘Jeudi 15’

Vino di Anna ‘Jeudi 15’ – harbouring a defined musculature, this volcanic trifecta blend shows a powerful restraint. The sharp, red fruit aromas pulse palpably across one’s tongue, bursting forth with red-currant, amarena cherry and wild strawberry. Delicate floral and savoury notes seep through the firm acidity and offer an equilibrious rigidity to what is an ultra-gluggable giggle juice. A medium-bodied eye-squinter, this combination of Nerello Mascalse, Nerello Cappuccio and Alicante marry traditional and post-modern-funk sensibilities in an expressively understated manner. The Jeudi 15 grapes are grown in a 2ha property situated in the contrada Monte LaGuardia at 800 metres altitude, on the northern slopes of Mt. Etna. The 80 year-old alberello Mascalese vines comprise the majority of this wine and 70% of the grapes are de-stemmed manually into an open, old oak fermentor. The remaining grapes are added as whole bunches.

The grape must stays in contact with the skins for 10 days, during which time foot-treading is employed. Fermentation is conducted with indigenous yeasts before the must is transferred to a stainless steel vat with the pressings added. In addition, malolactic fermentation occurs spontaneously and the wine ages on fine lees for nine months. Furthermore, there is neither fining nor filtering prior to bottling and ultimately, the consumer is fawning over purity and nakedness. Anna Martens, co-founder of the winery, had numerous, globe-trotting stints on a myriad of vineyards before settling in Sicily with husband Eric Narioo. Both came towards this venture with esteemed knowledge and passion, creating a dais on which anoraks could pray, repent and bask- they continue to shake the foundations of natural wine.

Vino di Anna ‘Jeudi 15’ – a raw beauty. As winemakers, Martens and Narioo operate with an honesty unburdened by convention or expectation- they indelibly imbue their cuveés with that same unshackled truth.