Passopisciaro Passobianco 2024
Passopisciaro Passobianco 2024 is a dry, medium-bodied white from Chardonnay, Carricante (Sicily, Italy), in the rich, round whites style. Acidity is fresh; oak influence is some. Good with roast chicken, salmon, creamy pasta, oysters. Drink now or within 10 years (to about 2034). No need to decant. Critic score 94/100 (merchant-reported).
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bramìto della Sala, Chardonnay, Umbria, Antinori 2025 Antinori · Umbria | £27.95 | |||
| Chanzy Hautes Cotes de Beaune Blanc 2022 Chanzy Grands Vins de Bourgogne · Burgundy | £27.95 | |||
| Nielson by Byron Santa Barbara Chardonnay Nielson · California | £27.90 | |||
| Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay 2023 Penfolds · South Australia | £28.02 |
Drink it now or cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant. Passopisciaro is the Sicilian winery developed by Andrea Franchetti, located in the homonymous hamlet of Castiglione di Sicilia, in an uncontaminated and wild landscape, where the rows of vines grow in harmony with nature and are lost behind the hills, surrounded by black volcanic soils. The 26 hectares of the very old vines of Passopisciaro, trained as a sapling, develop between 550 and 1000 meters on very different soils. Each plot is raised separately and follows different growth processes to bring the grapes to maturity. Unlike most of the Etna white wines, usually produced with the autochthonous Carricante, Passobianco is produced with 100% Chardonnay. The harvest is carried out meticulously by tasting the grains to ensure full and homogeneous ripeness of all the clusters, harvesting only small portions of the vine per day. The result is a rich, fresh, bright, and multifaceted wine. Its complexity is due to the combination of light conditions, temperature range, high altitude, and volcanic soil that are found only on Etna. The color is intense straw yellow. On the nose, the wine is elegant, with notes of yellow fruit, tropical fruit, and sweet sensations of honey and delicately toasted. The good body, and the pleasant fresh closure with savory and mineral notes typical of the volcanic terroir, make it the perfect partner for fish soups and white meats.