Our tasting impressions
This is a riveting, bracing and joyous white wine. The nose offers way more drama than expected from something so modestly priced. It's remarkably crisp. The citrus, floral and spicy flavors are delectable and uplifting. Super wine and incredible value!
About this wine
A blend of 85% Vermentino and 15% Fiano di Avellino. The grapes are manually harvested and vinifed separately. The process begins with a cold maceration for about 3-6 hours, followed by fermentation in stainless steel with the addition of selected yeasts at a controlled temperature of 16 °C. It's stored In steel containers on the noble lees for 3-4 months and released 2 months after bottling.
About the grape
Vermentino grows in much of the Mediteranean coastal regions and islands. It is most prevalent in Liguria, western Tuscany and Sardinia. Theories about it's origins are wide-ranging. It is incredibly easy to cultivate, highly resistant to disease and drought and early ripening - truly a farmer's delight.
Fiano is best known for the white wines produced in volcanic soil, in and around Campania.
Suggested Glassware: Grassl Mineralité
Gianni Moscardini's azienda in the village of Pomaia is in the northern Tuscan Maremma. This is the west coast, near Pisa. The Moscardini family has owned this land for 2 centuries but Gianni was the first to plant vines in its varied soils in 2008.
Production is growing and will soon reach 100,000 bottles annually from 13.5ha at an elevation of about 180m. The southwest-facing vines are trained in either he Guyot or Cordone Speronato system. All of the varieties are planted in at least 2 plots - each with a different soil composition - including some volcanic.
Gianni is an agronimist and his wife Meri is a plant biologist at the National Council of Research in Pisa. Together, they have deeply studied the soils and terroir of their land to determine the best approach to plantings. Their credo is to produce wines that fit seamlessly with the land, which is why they vinify the grapes from each plot separately prior to blending.
