Frank Cornelissen Susucaru Rosso 2022

For more than twenty years, Frank Cornelissen has been seeking perfection on Mount Etna. In 2001 he left his career as a wine broker in his native Belgium, armed with a deep understanding of the world’s finest wines and a determination to pursue quality and authenticity in his own winemaking. Now, thanks to that ongoing search for excellence and an endless willingness to keep trying new things, he produces a truly unique range of wines that are, for many, the best on the island.

Frank's vineyards are full of old vines and native grape varieties, and he knows every detail of them. He strives to work in harmony with nature to grow the best fruit possible, farming organically with some biodynamic practices. In the winery, his approach continues to evolve, and having previously refused to filter or use sulphur he now does both, albeit in a characteristically thoughtful, meticulously trialled fashion. If these adjustments annoy some of the more dogmatic natural wine enthusiasts who would like him to be their champion, that seems unlikely to bother Frank. His focus is firmly on excellence, and the result is wines that maintain their freshness and energy consistently over time. After more than twenty years, they are still getting better with each vintage.

Each year we look forward to the new release of Frank’s Susucaru wines. These are his entry-level bottlings, made to be approachable and delicious right from release. Susucaru Rosso is a field blend of 85% Nerello Mascalese with an assortment of other native varieties, taken from across Frank’s vineyards. Fermentation is with wild yeasts in neutral vessels, and the wine is lightly filtered before bottling. Small amounts of sulphur are used where necessary to preserve freshness. The finished wine is a gorgeous, juicy, light red, with aromas of red fruits, wonderful energy and fine tannins. A mouth-wateringly delicious, unique wine from a great artisan producer.