Alta Mora 2016 Etna Feudo di Mezzo Rosso

The 2016 Alta Mora Feudo di Mezzo Etna Rosso is a beautifully refined Sicilian red that fuses volcanic energy with elegant structure. It delivers bright wild cherry and Morello fruit, fine-grained tannins, and a mineral-drive finish — a wine that balances immediacy with age-worthy potential.

Origins & Craftsmanship

This red wine hails from the Feudo di Mezzo estate in the Etna DOC region of Sicily, where vines of Nerello Mascalese thrive in volcanic soils at high elevation. The 2016 vintage was crafted from mature vineyards, with attentive vinification that emphasises purity of fruit, minerality and native varietal expression. The ageing regime is modest, allowing the site’s volcanic imprint and varietal finesse to shine through rather than dominate with heavy oak.

Critics Reviews

• Kerin O’Keefe (Wine Enthusiast) awarded the wine 93 points and described it as “elegant and savory… aromas of wild berry, blue flower, underbrush and dark spice… a radiant palate delivering juicy Morello cherry, licorice and tobacco alongside lithe, fine-grained tannins that give it a rather drying finish. Bright acidity keeps it well balanced.”

• James Suckling gave it 93 points, noting “complex aromas of smoke, bramble and savory herbs, followed by cloves and dried flowers… this is an elegant, medium-bodied red with ultra-fine tannins and red-tea notes. Firm and lightly austere; mouthwatering finish.”

• Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (ML) scored it 95 points, calling it “a wine of unsuspecting power and intensity… ripe cherry, cassis, blue flower and rusty nail aromas… also shows a sanguine or mineral side with iron ore and pencil shavings… Made with fruit from 90- to 100-year-old vines the wine hits the palate in a sharp and decisive manner thanks to the tannins and the wine’s focused style.”

• Falstaff scored it 93 points, observing “bright shining ruby red… on the nose intense aromas of raspberry, cherry and Mediterranean herbs and a little smokey in the back. On the palate very fresh and juicy with very appealing tannins and pleasant drinking flow.”

Together, these professional evaluations establish the 2016 Feudo di Mezzo as a standout vintage from Alta Mora—elegant yet serious, defined by its high-altitude terroir and volcanic site.

Tasting Profile

Nose: A luminous ruby colour opens to aromas of wild berry, Morello cherry, blue-flower petals, delicate underbrush, savory herbs and subtle smoky volcanic ash.
Palate: Medium-bodied yet focused, the palate delivers juicy cherry and currant, backed by licorice root, tobacco leaf and a saline minerality. The tannins are fine-grained but assertive, imparting grip and structure, while bright acidity gives lift.
Finish: Long and poised — a drying finish marked by mineral iron-ore and pencil-shaving tannin, echoing volcanic site influence, with a lingering red-fruit aftertaste and herbal edge.

Quick Overview