Frank Cornelissen Munjebel MC Terre Siciliane Rosso 2022

Frank Cornelissen Munjebel MC Terre Siciliane Rosso 2022

Frank Cornelissen
$85.00

Grape: Nerello Mascalese
Vintage: 2022
Type: Red

Sourced entirely from the steep, terraced Monte Colla cru, this red wine showcases old-vine nerello mascalese planted in 1946. Frank Cornelissen manages the vineyard manually on the north slope of Mount Etna, where the vines face sun and wind. The sandy clay soil naturally isolates nutrients, forcing the roots deep and locking in high mineral components. The winemaking follows a strict zero-makeup philosophy, relying on spontaneous native yeast fermentation without added sulfur.

It displays a bright ruby-garnet color, releasing a perfumed nose of dark plum, blackberry, and wild Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, a rich, full-bodied frame balances structural power with an underlying silkiness and grace. Clean flavors of fresh cherry and pomegranate blend smoothly into a fine structural baseline. A sharp beam of volcanic acidity cuts right through the mid-palate, keeping the mouthfeel thoroughly refreshed. It concludes bone-dry, leaving a long-lasting 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.