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Azienda Agricola Frank Cornelissen

2019 Azienda Agricola Frank Cornelissen, Munjebel Rosso VA, Sicily

Italy Nerello Mascalese Sicily 750ML

Vinous

92

CellarTracker

92
/
Azienda Agricola Frank Cornelissen

2019 Azienda Agricola Frank Cornelissen, Munjebel Rosso VA, Sicily

Italy Nerello Mascalese Sicily 750ML

Vinous

92

CellarTracker

92
/

100% Nerello Mascalese from the 3 highest vineyards atop Mt. Etna - Tartaraci, Rampante Soprana & Barbabecchi, all between 870-1000m altitude. The 90+ year-old vines are entirely ungrafted. The grapes are de-stemmed and allowed to macerate for 60 days. Fermentations start with a pied de cuvée, and are carried out in neutral vats. The wines will age in vat for 18 months and in bottle for another 18 months. About 2500 bottles are made annually, this wine the most Burgundian of the collection.

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To say that Frank Cornellisen is in touch with nature is an understatement. It is his entire ethos and purpose of being. The success of his Susucaru wines is both a blessing and a curse. The wines are fine... but I often see Munjebel just sitting there on shelves collecting dust while hoards of Hipters are walking off with the "Susu". Frank's Munjebel cuvées are full of character, detail and haunting complex notes with a massive range. Even the basic "Rosso" (a blend of all Crus) offers a beautiful alpine snapshot of volcanic Contradas. Delicate, refined red fruit, dried rose petals & volcanic rock dominate these wines in a way that is quite direct, yet offers time for contemplation. These wines have silky structures with a bit of wildness that is in perfect balance. They are pleasantly primary at first but with air, they evolve into magically framed, finessed wines that offer ultimate enjoyment.

Azienda Agricola Frank Cornelissen

Though not a native Italian, the Belgian-born Cornelissen has lived around wine his entire life, growing up the son of an importer. Nearly 25 years ago, Frank invested in a vineyard high on the daunting slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily, starting with a mere 0.4 hectares of vines.

Now the proud owner of 19 hectares, the Cornelissen label has come to be known as a seal of not only quality, but impressively individual wines. While the early years brought wines of intense minrerality and acidity, Frank has grown along with his vineyards, learning through smart viticulture how to imbue more depth and richness into the wines that will always possess the clear minerality of such extreme sites.

Working with the indigenous grapes of Etna, such as Nerello Mascalese, can be daunting for many; many of the vineyards atop the mountain were planted with clones that would allow for impressive yields in place of high quality. Frank has used great clones, many un-grafted vines as well, to achieve the great quality he eternally pursues.

Stylistically, the wines are undoubtedly full of personality; he has separated his wines into "Grand Crus" and "Premier Crus," but will largely treat them the same, the difference being the vine material and quality of fruit. Grapes are de-stemmed and lightly crushed, and there will usually be some skin contact for all wines, whites included. Mascalese benefits from longer contact with the skins, usually around 50 days. The wines will ferment with native yeasts in large (1500-2500 L ) epoxy-lined tanks where they will age for 18 months. The wines will be bottled and again age in bottle for around 18 months before release. This does not account for the Perpetuum, which is a multi-vintage blend crafted as a perpetual reserve, or solera-style, dating back to the 2015 vintage.

Frank considers the Munjebel VA to be the most "Burgundian" in character - think of Nerello Mascalese as a bridge of sorts between Pinot and Nebbiolo - whereas the Munjebel CR is the most intense, structured version more in line with the grape's Nebbiolo character.

Meet the Producer

Azienda Agricola Frank Cornelissen

To say that Frank Cornellisen is in touch with nature is an understatement. It is his entire ethos and purpose of being. The success of his Susucaru wines is both a blessing and a curse. The wines are fine... but I often see Munjebel just sitting there on shelves collecting dust while hoards of Hipters are walking off with the "Susu". Frank's Munjebel cuvées are full of character, detail and haunting complex notes with a massive range. Even the basic "Rosso" (a blend of all Crus) offers a beautiful alpine snapshot of volcanic Contradas. Delicate, refined red fruit, dried rose petals & volcanic rock dominate these wines in a way that is quite direct, yet offers time for contemplation. These wines have silky structures with a bit of wildness that is in perfect balance. They are pleasantly primary at first but with air, they evolve into magically framed, finessed wines that offer ultimate enjoyment.

Though not a native Italian, the Belgian-born Cornelissen has lived around wine his entire life, growing up the son of an importer. Nearly 25 years ago, Frank invested in a vineyard high on the daunting slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily, starting with a mere 0.4 hectares of vines.

Now the proud owner of 19 hectares, the Cornelissen label has come to be known as a seal of not only quality, but impressively individual wines. While the early years brought wines of intense minrerality and acidity, Frank has grown along with his vineyards, learning through smart viticulture how to imbue more depth and richness into the wines that will always possess the clear minerality of such extreme sites.

Working with the indigenous grapes of Etna, such as Nerello Mascalese, can be daunting for many; many of the vineyards atop the mountain were planted with clones that would allow for impressive yields in place of high quality. Frank has used great clones, many un-grafted vines as well, to achieve the great quality he eternally pursues.

Stylistically, the wines are undoubtedly full of personality; he has separated his wines into "Grand Crus" and "Premier Crus," but will largely treat them the same, the difference being the vine material and quality of fruit. Grapes are de-stemmed and lightly crushed, and there will usually be some skin contact for all wines, whites included. Mascalese benefits from longer contact with the skins, usually around 50 days. The wines will ferment with native yeasts in large (1500-2500 L ) epoxy-lined tanks where they will age for 18 months. The wines will be bottled and again age in bottle for around 18 months before release. This does not account for the Perpetuum, which is a multi-vintage blend crafted as a perpetual reserve, or solera-style, dating back to the 2015 vintage.

Frank considers the Munjebel VA to be the most "Burgundian" in character - think of Nerello Mascalese as a bridge of sorts between Pinot and Nebbiolo - whereas the Munjebel CR is the most intense, structured version more in line with the grape's Nebbiolo character.

Vinous

Vinous

92

The remarkably pretty 2019 Munjebel Rosso VA (Le Vigne Alte) blossoms in the glass with a vivid mix of crushed cherries complemented by fresh mint leaf and hints of camphor. This is a pure and finessed expression, seemingly weightless at times, with juicy acidity that excites the palate, as violet-laced red berries and hints of cinnamon give way to edgy tannins toward the close. That said, while a tug of youthful structure resides, the expression remains remarkably fresh, with an almost-black tea-like coating of residual tension that lingers under purple- and blue-toned inner florals. Le Vigne Alte is a blend of Cornelissen’s highest-elevation vines from the Tartaraci, Rampante Soprana and Barbabecchi vineyards. It’s the understated beauty of the lineup.

What the Critics are Saying

Vinous

Vinous

92

The remarkably pretty 2019 Munjebel Rosso VA (Le Vigne Alte) blossoms in the glass with a vivid mix of crushed cherries complemented by fresh mint leaf and hints of camphor. This is a pure and finessed expression, seemingly weightless at times, with juicy acidity that excites the palate, as violet-laced red berries and hints of cinnamon give way to edgy tannins toward the close. That said, while a tug of youthful structure resides, the expression remains remarkably fresh, with an almost-black tea-like coating of residual tension that lingers under purple- and blue-toned inner florals. Le Vigne Alte is a blend of Cornelissen’s highest-elevation vines from the Tartaraci, Rampante Soprana and Barbabecchi vineyards. It’s the understated beauty of the lineup.