Bianco di Ampeleia 2019
“For the Bianco di Ampeleia, we have recovered an old vineyard near the winery and grafted it with indigenous varieties of the Mediterranean Basin. A field-blend, as according to tradition, mostly of Trebbiano grapes together with some Ansonica and Malvasia. On average the wine spends 7 days fermenting on skins, adding complexity and texture Shining lemony rose gold in colour, notes of apple and Bartlett pear, nutty quality on the finish, alongside pure – fresh acidity.” Producer Notes
ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC / NATURAL
La Tosa Riodeltordo 2018
45% Malvasia di Candia aromatic, flooded with sunshine and personality, 30% Ortugo, permeated with smoothness and a delicate mineral undertone, 20% Trebbiano, giving it an acidic and spontaneous freshness, 5% Sauvignon, lending a robust and full-flavored quality.
ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC / NATURAL / NO SO2 ADDED
Monastero Trappiste Vitorchiano Coenobium 2018
Farmed organically on five hectares in the town Vitorchiano, in the region of Lazio (about an hour north of Rome). The sisters of Monastero Suore Cistercensi have gained a cult following among wine aficionados. This wine is a blend of Trebbiano, Verdicchio, and Malvasia which is harvested together and allowed to spontaneously ferment using indigenous yeasts. Aromas in the spectrum of fennel and chamomile there is a distinct autumnal character to this wine that transcends description. Bright acidity rings out and gives life to some delicate spices. Bella!
ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC / NATURAL
Monastero Trappiste Vitorchiano Coenobium Ruscum 2018
The Cistercian order of nuns at Monastero Suore Cistercensi, near Vitorchiano in Lazio planted their vineyard in 1963, but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that their wines began to attract more attention, largely due to their employment of the noted winemaking consultant, Giampiero Bea. Made from a blend of Trebbiano, Malvasia, and Verdicchio, Coenobium Ruscum is an “orange” wine, with the pressed juice given extended skin contact, in this case 15 days or more. Fairly light in body given the long skin contact, the wine is scented with mint and herbs; on the palate it has a mouth-filling texture with flavors of baked apple and caramel.
ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC / NATURAL
Orsi San Vito Posca Bianca NV
The ‘NV’ in the description stands for ‘non-vintage’, meaning that the wine is made from the product of more than one single year. Federico has made what he calls his ‘perpetual cuvée’ – a wine that slowly changes and evolves over time. The idea is a little like a simplified version of the Solera system used in Spanish sherry-making. Each year wine is added to a tank that already contains wine from up to ten previous vintages; wine is then bottled from that tank roughly every six weeks throughout the year with wine taken from all the available vessels in the cellar to top it up again. Next vintage more new wine is added to the tank, and so the process continues. This results in fresh, zesty notes from the young Pignoletto, and savoury, nutty notes from the Pignoletto that has had more time to mature in the tank. The wine will also display subtle differences depending on which bottling it comes from – check the back of the label to see when yours is dated. Always different, always the same, a bit like the Fall.
ORGANIC / BIODYNAMIC / NATURAL / NO SO2 ADDED
Ramon Jane Ovella Negra 2019
From biodynamic estate vineyards of calcareous clay soils. Hand-harvested in small lug bins, sorting in the vineyard, grapes are chilled and pressed. Single fermentation in the bottle with indigenous yeasts and no additions. No SO2 added.
Garnacha Blanca and Malvasia de Sitges. An unusual blend makes this wine stand out, there’s very little of either grape in Penedès. Two weeks of skin contact maceration give an orange appearance, lots of fruit and texture.