96 PTS
Planeta practically put modern Sicilian wine on the map with this exact bottling, and historically, it leaned hard into a rich, golden, heavily-wooded profile. But the 2023 is a completely different beast. It sheds all of that heavy, commercial luxury to deliver something fiercely coastal, wild, and alive.
Sourced from the blindingly white, chalky soils of Menfi, the nose totally bypasses lazy tropical fruit. Instead, it hits you with a sharp, untamed blast of crushed sea shells, wild fennel, green almond, and preserved lemon. There is a framing of wood here, but it reads as toasted hazelnut and crushed stone rather than anything sweet or buttery.
On the palate, it absolutely vibrates. There is undeniable texture and dry extract from the barrel fermentation, but it refuses to be wide, fat, or perfectly polite. It drives straight down the center with a tense, vertical spine of acidity and a massive, mouthwatering saline snap. It has a raw, electric nervous energy that keeps all the island richness perfectly in check. This is bone-dry, highly architectural Chardonnay that completely resets the palate and demands a massive plate of charred swordfish.
— Orazio Campoli, May 2026
About the ProducerFounded in 1995 by the cousins Alessio, Francesca and Santi Planeta, this family estate catalyzed the modern Sicilian wine renaissance. They began by proving the island’s potential with international varieties like Chardonnay and Syrah before becoming leading champions of Sicily’s indigenous grapes and diverse terroirs. Today Planeta makes a “journey through Sicily,” with wineries in Menfi, Vittoria, Noto, Etna and Capo Milazzo.
Menfi is where it started. The Chardonnay practically put modern Sicilian wine on the map; historically rich and heavily wooded, the recent vintages have become more coastal and tense, with a saline snap. The Maroccoli Syrah, from an elevated vineyard, is peppery, meaty and structured rather than jammy, and Burdese is the estate’s tribute to Bordeaux. La Segreta Rosso, anchored by Nero d’Avola, is an everyday red with real energy.
On the north slope of Etna the style changes completely. The Etna Bianco and the Contrada Taccione, 100% Carricante from about 700 metres on black lava sand, are all volcanic tension and salinity; the Etna Rosso and Eruzione 1614, named after the long eruption of that year, show Nerello Mascalese’s red fruit, ash and fine, strict tannins. Few Sicilian producers cover so much of the island so consistently.
