Benefizio Bianco Riserva DOC 2018, Castello di Pomino, Marchesi de' Frescobaldi, Tuscany

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Our Price:  £36.34Earn 36 Loyalty Points Bottle or Case:    Bottle:  £36.34  Case of 6:  £218.04  Case of 12:  £436.08 Producer:  Frescobaldi Grape Varieties:  Chardonnay 100% Optimum Drinking:  Within 5 years Wine Style:  Fruity yet creamy dry white Alcohol by Volume:  13.5% Closure:  Natural Cork Country:  Italy Availability:

Benefizio Bianco Riserva DOC 2018, Castello di Pomino, Marchesi de' Frescobaldi, Tuscany

Producer Note

Castello Pomino is the hidden gem of Toscana. Pomino DOC is the highest appellation in Tuscany, with intense sunshine and wide temperature ranges and only one other producer makes wine from this tiny appellation. The wine-making story began in Pomino in the 16th century, but it was in the mid 1800s that Leonia degli Albizzi, wife of Angiolo Frescobaldi brought about significant innovation. Born in Burgundy, she boldly cultivated Chardonnay and Pinot Nero at this high altitude and built the first gravity-fed winery. The vines thrived and the elegant Pomino wines were produced to wide acclaim, first receiving the gold medal at the Paris Expo of 1878. These stylish wines still have a wonderful luminosity, minerality and finesse to this day.

Vintage

A relatively dry and mild winter led to earlier budding than usual. The spring rainfall provided excellent water reserves during the long, dry summer with temperatures consistently exceeding 30°C, which guaranteed grapes in excellent health.

Vineyard

The castle of Pomino is found in the Apennine mountains to the east of Florence. Its vineyards are the highest in Tuscany, up to 737 metres, and enjoy a fresh and well ventilated microclimate. The Frescobaldi family planted Chardonnay and Pinot Nero here in 1855. The vines are grown in a sandy soil with strong presence of stones, which is rich in mineral elements and very well drained. After a century and a half, these varieties have found their ideal habitat and produce wines of extraordinary elegance, finesse and minerality.

Winemaking

Fermentation took place in 50% new and 50% in one year French barriques and lasted for 30 days with “bâtonnage" adding texture and complexity to the final wine. Part of the must was macerated for 12 hours at 5°C. Malolactic fermentation was carried out for the majority softening the mouthfeel. The wine was matured in new and one year French barriques for 10 months with a further four months in bottle, prior to release.

Tasting Note

This barrique aged white wine is elegant and distinctive. With a nose offering a rich array of aromas - floral scents, candied orange peel, dried fruit, white pepper and delicate toasted notes, on the palate it is pleasingly luscious, beautifully balanced and long on the finish.

Serving Suggestion

Serve chilled to accompany grilled, seared or roasted lobster and scallops, guinea fowl, chicken with a rich sauce, wild mushrooms and white truffles.

Grape

Chardonnay 100%