Buscemi I IGT Sicilia Il Bianco 2023 I Sicily Wine
Buscemi I IGT Sicilia Il Bianco 2023 I Sicily Wine

Mirella Buscemi, IGT Sicilia “Il Bianco”, 2023

£37.00

Sourced from the high-altitude Tartaraci vineyard (980 m) on the north-facing slopes of Mount Etna in Bronte, this blend of 70% Carricante and 30% Grecanico comes from 90-year-old vines rooted in pure black volcanic soils. Hand-harvested, fermented with indigenous yeasts in large oak tonneaux, and aged for 8 months with malolactic conversion, the wine shows both precision and depth.

The nose is refined and complex, combining ripe and lightly smoky nuances with floral tones, pollen and fresh almond. On the palate, it is vibrant and chiselled, with a striking purity and energy that reflect its altitude and volcanic terroir. The texture is structured and elegant, carrying through to a long, mineral driven finish with remarkable salinity and clarity.

Sourced from the high-altitude Tartaraci vineyard (980 m) on the north-facing slopes of Mount Etna in Bronte, this blend of 70% Carricante and 30% Grecanico comes from 90-year-old vines rooted in pure black volcanic soils. Hand-harvested, fermented with indigenous yeasts in large oak tonneaux, and aged for 8 months with malolactic conversion, the wine shows both precision and depth.

The nose is refined and complex, combining ripe and lightly smoky nuances with floral tones, pollen and fresh almond. On the palate, it is vibrant and chiselled, with a striking purity and energy that reflect its altitude and volcanic terroir. The texture is structured and elegant, carrying through to a long, mineral driven finish with remarkable salinity and clarity.

Located at 980 metres on the north-western slopes of Mount Etna, Contrada Tartaraci is a single, north-facing vineyard of just 1.5 hectares, planted with 80–90-year-old bush vines on pure black, mineral-rich volcanic soils. The estate was founded in 2016 by Mirella Buscemi, a chemist turned winemaker, who received this historic site—dating back to 1799—as a personal project rooted in heritage and precision.

The vineyard preserves its original varieties: Nerello Mascalese, the backbone of the reds, complemented by Grenache, historically introduced to soften and lift its profile. The whites are based on Carricante and Grecanico, bringing structure, freshness, and salinity. The extreme altitude, combined with strong diurnal temperature variation and late-season ripening, defines the wines’ tension, aromatic clarity, and balance.

Grape variety : 70% Carricante 30% Grecanico Plots : Tartaraci Average age of the vines : 80 - 100 years Orientation : North Surface Area: 1.5 h Altitude: 980m above sea level Vinification: Natural yeast, fermented in Stainless Steel & Barrel Ageing: 8 months ageing in 500l Barrel and 12 months in bottle Alcohol: 13% Bottles produced: 4,000