2021 Girolamo Russo " San Lorenzo" Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy

ABOUT THIS WINE

The San Lorenzo cru is one of the crown jewels of Girolamo Russo’s estate—situated just outside the village of Randazzo on the cooler, wind-swept northern slope of Mount Etna. Vines here are 70–100 years old, planted between 700–750 meters altitude in sandy, decomposed volcanic soils laced with ash and stone. This high elevation and poor, well-drained soil create wines of taut structure, aromatic lift, and exceptional aging potential.

Made from 100% Nerello Mascalese, the wine is fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel, followed by aging for around 16 months in large, neutral Slavonian oak botti. Farming is certified organic, and no fining or filtration is used. The 2021 vintage was relatively cool and slow-ripening, favoring wines with fine detail, intense aromatics, and bright acidity.

Among Russo’s single-vineyard bottlings, San Lorenzo is often considered the most complete—combining the muscularity of Feudo with the elegance of Calderara. It’s a superb food wine, pairing beautifully with Sicilian-style rabbit, slow-cooked lamb, porcini dishes, and aged cheeses. Cellar-worthy for a decade or more.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Girolamo Russo is the project of Giuseppe Russo, who left a career as a classical pianist to tend his family's vineyards near Passopisciaro. Since 2005, he has grown the estate to encompass 15 hectares, all planted to old-vine Nerello Mascalese across several iconic Etna contrade including San Lorenzo, Feudo, and Calderara Sottana.

His work is defined by organic farming, low intervention winemaking, and a deep respect for the volcanic terroir. Each cru bottling is a study in place: San Lorenzo in particular reveals the high-altitude poise and mineral depth that have made Etna one of Italy’s most exciting wine regions. Russo’s wines are regularly praised for their transparency, purity, and classical structure, with San Lorenzo often considered his most complete and age-worthy bottling.