MunJebel® Rosso BB, contrada Barbabecchi

Vineyard and terroir

The wine comes from contrada Barbabecchi in the frazione of Solicchiata, comune of Castiglione di Sicilia, within Etna’s northern valley. The vineyard occupies north- and north-east-facing ground at 870–910 m a.s.l. Its ungrafted Nerello Mascalese vines average more than 100 years of age.

Grapes

100% Nerello Mascalese from ungrafted vines.

Vinification

The grapes are destemmed and lightly crushed. Fermentation starts with a pied-de-cuve, relies solely on indigenous yeasts and includes approximately 50 days of skin contact. There is no fining. Before bottling, the wine is filtered through 5-micron polypropylene cartridges. Sulphur may or may not be added depending on grape quality and wine stability, with values ranging from 15 to 50 mg/L.

Ageing

The wine matures for 18 months in neutral epoxy tanks of 1,500–2,500 L, followed by 18 months in bottle.

Technical data

Production is approximately 1,500 bottles in a release year. The denomination is DOP Sicilia or IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. Dark Burgundy bottles are used in 750 mL, 1,500 mL and 3,000 mL formats, with 5,000 mL available only by special request.

Serving and pairing

Zalto Burgundy stemware is recommended.

Vintage notes

MunJebel® Rosso BB is made when the Barbabecchi fruit does not attain the standard required for Magma® but retains enough quality and personality to merit a single-vineyard bottling. This occurred in 2010 and 2018. The 2010 fruit was released as MunJebel® 10th Anniversary, while the 2018 release carries the initials BB for Barbabecchi.