Munjebel VA Red 2020

Munjebel VA Red 2020

Cornelissen

Made from pure Sicilian Nerello Mascalese (PDO/DOP Etna Rosso and PGI Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese appellations), Munjebel VA is an organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural red wine produced by Frank Cornelissen. It is a blend of the estate's three highest vineyards (Vigne Alte), rich in biodiversity: Tartaraci (1,000 m above sea level), Rampante Soprana (870 m), and Barbabecchi (910 m). The soils are basaltic and the ungrafted vines are on average 90 years old.

Vinification

The Nerello Mascalese grapes are destemmed and lightly crushed before a 50-day fermentation-maceration on the skins. The wine is aged for 18 months in vats and 18 months in bottle. No fining, light filtration.

Tasting

Munjebel VA is the estate's most Burgundian vintage, with the most pronounced acidity. Balanced, structured, gastronomic, and easy to drink, it offers plenty of crisp fruit, without ever being too easy. This wine magnificently expresses the excellence and precision of the old, ungrafted Nerello Mascalese vines located on the high terraces of Etna's northern valley. At the table, it goes with everything, and especially with a good roast poultry, to be chosen from the Ferme du Vidalies or the Collectif de la Noire d’Astarac-Bigorre.

Learn more about Frank Cornelissen

A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, the Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.

An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification

In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Night Coast of Sicily". Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.

The nobility of Nerello Mascalese

Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…