Frank Cornelissen MunJebel PA 2021

The MunJebel PA is one of Cornelissen's single-contrada (cru) bottlings — quite a step up in specificity and rarity from the classico Rosso. Here's what makes it special:

The Contrada: Porcaria

The PA comes from the old-vine alberello cru Porcaria, situated at 640 metres above sea level in the contrada Feudo di Mezzo. Frank himself notes it's a special location, though more difficult to achieve perfection in maturation compared to his other crus — but in the right vintages it has real power and refined elegance worthy of the cru designation.

The Grape & Viticulture

It's 100% Nerello Mascalese from vines over 60 years old, trained in the traditional alberello (bush vine) style on the northern slopes of Mount Etna

The PA sits between the classico MunJebel Rosso (the multi-vineyard blend you asked about earlier) and the very top of the range, Magma. It's one of several single-contrada crus Cornelissen produces — others include CS (Chiusa Spagnolo), MC (Monte Colla), VA (le Vigne Alte), CD (Calderara Sottana), and CR (Campo Re). The PA's high altitude and challenging ripening conditions give it a particularly distinctive character compared to the other crus.