Susucaru! Munjebel! Patos! OH MY! New Frank Cornelissen Releases!

Mount Etna on Sicily is one of the most exciting places in the wine world right now. Sometimes called "the Burgundy of the Mediterranean," and it's not just because the wines are graceful and elegant, it's also because there's an insane concentration of amazing producers. Salvo Foti, Ciro Biondi, Eduardo Torres-Acosta, Calabretta, Tenuta Terre Nere, Romeo del Castello; the list just goes on and on. But even in this crowded field, Frank Cornelissen stands out. Frank is making what might be the most unique wines in Sicily. In fact, these are some of the most unique wines coming out of all of Italy.

Today, we're pleased to offer Frank Cornelissen's stunning 2023 Susucaru rosato, a new wine called "Patos", and a little 2022 & 2020 Munjebel Bianco.

In 2001, Frank began his estate with 1 hectare of old vines, and has since grown to 12ha. Frank has never used any additions of any kind in his winemaking – no yeast, low to no sulphur, no oak – and with many vintages under his belt, the wines have become better than ever, and iconic in the natural wine world. They combine volcanic minerality and dense structure with incredible fruit and floral aromatics. His recent vintages have displayed a level of detail and complexity. These are wines of incredible concentration and finesse that stand with the best, "natural" or not.

Etna is an active volcano that erupts often, so it can seem like a crazy place to grow grapes. But on this island are 100+ year-old-vines of ancient varieties that had never seen phylloxera, on top of some of the most unique and oldest soils in the world. The vines on Etna grow directly in the pitch black volcanic soil left behind from the eruptions. Most importantly, the place and its signature red grape, Nerello Mascalese, are capable of making red wines that could rival any Barolo in their combination of finesse and structure.

Frank also specializes in white wines, with his signature Munjebel Bianco. We recently opened a bottle of the 2020 and were absolutely floored. Textures for days, deliciously complex flavors of pear, yellow fruits, and herbs, with the body and mouthfeel reminiscent of Gravner's Ribolla or Zidarich's Vitovska. Don't miss these Munjebels if you can help it!

Frank's Susucaru Rosato is one of our favorite releases. Due to a longer than usual contact with the skins, franks rosato can be considered to some more like a light red, perfect for year round drinking. Frank points us towards the Jura for his inspiration, with delicate light red fruit notes and supreme drinkability.

A new wine hits New York for the first time, his 2022 "Patos", a wine made in collaboration with his friend and musician Sondre Lerche, that was only available in Norway up until now.  Patos is from 100% Catarratto made from 20 year old vines in the region of menfi, in southwest Sicily.  it sees about 10 days of skin contact, making it a slight orange wine with notes of quince, honey, and lots of minerality.

Over the past few years, Frank's wines have skyrocketed in popularity as well as quality, so we get very little. We have not had any susucaru in since last summer. Grab what you can now.

We are already at the lowest price in the US, but combine any 6 bottles for an extra 10% or any 12 for an extra 15% off!

1) Frank Cornelissen Terre Siciliane Rosato "Susucaru" 2023 750ml
Sale Price: $29.99/btl!! BUY NOW
Combine any 6 bottles for an extra 10% or any 12 for an extra 15% off!
Our rosé is produced with the same phylosophy and vinification techniques as all our other wines: skin contact for texture and territorial identity, malolactic fermentation fully finished for density, fluidity and stability. Not only a refreshing summer wine from a blend of Malvasia, Moscadella, Insolia and Nerello Mascalese, as this is a “rosé” which can also be regarded as a light red, like a “Jura” wine, pairing well with a wide variety of dishes.

2) Frank Cornelissen Terre Siciliane Bianco "Patos" 2022 750ml - 36 bottles available
Sale Price $32.99/btl!! BUY NOW
Combine any 6 bottles for an extra 10% or any 12 for an extra 15% off!
A new wine hits New York for the first time, his 2022 "Patos", a wine made in collaboration with his friend and musician Sondre Lerche, that was only available in Norway up until now. Patos is from 100% Catarratto made from 20 year old vines in the region of menfi, in southwest Sicily. it sees about 10 days of skin contact, making it a slight orange wine with notes of quince, honey, and lots of minerality.

3) Frank Cornelissen Terre Siciliane Bianco "Munjebel" 2020 750ml - 6 bottles available
Frank Cornelissen Terre Siciliane Bianco "Munjebel" 2020 1.5L MAG - 1 mag available
750ml Sale Price $52.99/btl!! BUY NOW1.5L Sale Price $114.99/btl!! BUY NOW
Combine any 6 bottles for an extra 10% or any 12 for an extra 15% off!
"The light skin contact we apply on our white wines results in a combination of density as well as elegance and makes this wine very suited to accompany a wide variety of dishes and cuisine, from fish to white meat. The vineyards (Calderara, Borriglione, Crasà and Picciolo) are located between 620 and 750 m. asl with. A blend of 50% Grecanico Dorato and 50% Carricante." - Frank

Frank only makes one white wine, but it is a fascinating, pure, uncompromising look into Mount Etna terroir. This opens with delicate aromas evoking citrus, wet pebble and Mediterranean scrub. It's elegantly structured, delivering Meyer lemon, unsweetened tangerine drop candy, smoky flint and dried apricot set against fresh acidity. It has a dry, lingering finish.

3) Frank Cornelissen Terre Siciliane Bianco "Munjebel" 2022 750ml - 36 bottles available
Sale Price $52.99/btl!! BUY NOW
Combine any 6 bottles for an extra 10% or any 12 for an extra 15% off!
"The light skin contact we apply on our white wines results in a combination of density as well as elegance and makes this wine very suited to accompany a wide variety of dishes and cuisine, from fish to white meat. The vineyards (Calderara, Borriglione, Crasà and Picciolo) are located between 620 and 750 m. asl with. A blend of 50% Grecanico Dorato and 50% Carricante." - Frank

Frank only makes one white wine, but it is a fascinating, pure, uncompromising look into Mount Etna terroir. This opens with delicate aromas evoking citrus, wet pebble and Mediterranean scrub. It's elegantly structured, delivering Meyer lemon, unsweetened tangerine drop candy, smoky flint and dried apricot set against fresh acidity. It has a dry, lingering finish.