Idda (Gaja) - Sicilia Bianco 2023
Price: $49.96
Sale Price: $45.00
| Producer | Idda (Gaja) |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Varietal | Other White Grapes |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Sku | 798862 |
| Size | 750ml |
Origins of IDDA
Born from a partnership between two great winemaking families—Angelo Gaja of Piedmont and Alberto Graci of Etna—IDDA is the meeting point of their combined experience and Mount Etna's volcanic energy. The collaboration began in 2016, together, they envisioned wines that would honor Etna’s singular character while introducing a new level of precision to the region. The name IDDA—meaning “she” in Sicilian—reflects the local term of endearment for Mount Etna herself, the living, breathing force that defines both the landscape and the wines. In 2023, the estate celebrated the first harvest in its new Belpasso winery, a modern facility designed to capture the nuances of each vineyard parcel.
Vineyards and Terroir
The IDDA estate encompasses 50 acres of vineyards on the southern and southwestern slopes of Mount Etna, between 2,000 and 2,600 feet above sea level. These sites represent two sides of Etna’s complex geology: Belpasso’s darker, porous volcanic soils bring richness and depth, while Biancavilla’s older, lighter soils preserve brightness and lift. The vineyards are farmed sustainably, with meticulous attention to soil vitality and balance. The 2023 growing season was hot and dry, with alternating spells of rain and sun that required precise timing at harvest. The team’s experience ensured that the Carricante grapes reached perfect maturity, yielding fruit that balances ripeness and minerality—a hallmark of Etna’s finest whites.
The 2023 IDDA Bianco
The 2023 IDDA Bianco captures the grace and energy of Mount Etna’s southern slopes in a strikingly elegant form. Made entirely from Carricante, the wine was whole-bunch pressed and aged for 6–9 months in both oak and stainless steel, achieving a seamless balance of texture and freshness. In the glass, it opens with wisteria, orange blossom, and stone fruit, followed by notes of citrus, cantaloupe, and almond. The palate is layered yet precise, showing a fine interplay of salinity and minerality that lingers through the finish. Still youthful but already remarkably expressive, the 2023 IDDA Bianco demonstrates how Gaja and Graci’s vision is paying off—an exquisite reflection of a great terroir that continues to surprise, much like the overlooked vintages of Bordeaux now revealing their quiet brilliance.
Vinous Media: 94 Points
The 2023 Bianco demands attention with a beguiling bouquet that mixes crushed rocks, sesame seeds and curry leaves with nectarines and lemon zest. This opens with a pretty inner sweetness contrasted by masses of salty minerals and zesty acidity as ripe orchard fruits cascade throughout. The 2023 tapers off dramatically, long and spicy. A sour citrus tinge forces the mouth to salivate as hints of candied lime and a tart Granny Smith apple concentration slowly fade. In a word, fantastic.
