Frank Cornelissen Susucaru Rosato Terre Siciliane IGT 2022

Frank Cornelissen Susucaru Rosato Terre Siciliane IGT 2022

Frank Cornelissen
$35.00

Grape: Nerello Mascalese
Vintage: 2022
Type: Rosé

This distinctive volcanic rosé is a traditional clarete blend combining native red and white grape varieties from Mount Etna. Frank Cornelissen utilizes low-intervention viticulture to handle the fruit, which relies heavily on nerello mascalese grown on basalt soils. The winemaking involves a brief skin contact period and a completely spontaneous fermentation driven by native wild yeasts in neutral tanks. The final liquid is bottled entirely unfiltered, unfined, and without any added sulfur.

It pours a pale ruby-pink color, releasing aromas of wild red berries, blood orange, and subtle smoky notes. On the palate, the light-to-medium body drinks more like a light, savory red wine with a texturities-driven mouthfeel. A sharp wave of volcanic acidity runs through the center, keeping the fluid frame refreshed and lively. Soft, unassuming tannins provide an understated grip that frames the clean finish nicely. It concludes bone-dry, leaving a saline-tinged trail.

Frank Cornelissen is a renowned natural winemaker known for his uncompromising, minimal-intervention approach to winemaking. A native of Belgium, Cornelissen established his estate in 2001 with the goal of producing authentic, terroir-driven wines. His wines have since achieved cult status among natural wine enthusiasts. Cornelissen follows a "naturalistic" philosophy, aiming to make wines with no additives, including commercial yeasts or sulfur dioxide. He works with ungrafted, indigenous grape varieties like Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, and Grecanico. Grapes are hand-harvested, and fermentation occurs with indigenous yeasts. The wines are aged in neutral vessels such as fiberglass tanks and epoxy-coated terracotta amphorae, avoiding the use of wood to allow the terroir to shine through.