Frank Cornelissen Munjebel CR Terre Siciliane Rosso 2022

Frank Cornelissen Munjebel CR Terre Siciliane Rosso 2022

Frank Cornelissen
$85.00

Grape: Nerello Mascalese
Vintage: 2022
Type: Red

This volcanic red wine is a pure varietal expression of nerello mascalese from the Campo Re single vineyard. Frank Cornelissen sources the fruit from a partly ungrafted parcel situated seven-hundred and thirty-five meters above sea level. The deep valley soils near Randazzo naturally build a dense framework, particularly during humid growing seasons. The winemaking utilizes a low-intervention spontaneous fermentation with native vineyard yeasts, entirely bypassing modern wood barrel configurations or synthetic filtration.

It pours a translucent ruby color, opening with intense aromas of wild cherry, smoky minerals, and iron. On the palate, a medium-to-full body is deeply structured and backward, showcasing a firm, traditional tannin backbone. Savory flavors of volcanic earth and black tea develop nicely as the fluid mouthfeel expands. A clean thread of alpine acidity runs through the center, keeping the profile fresh. It finishes long, dry, and persistent, leaving a nebbiolo-like trace.

Winery

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.