Montenidoli - Vernaccia di San Gimignano "Tradizionale", 2016
Montenidoli (meaning “the mountain of the little nests”) is a place of spirituality and history. The Etruscans were the first to discover the potential of this area. They were followed by the Romans and then the Knights of the Templar, who stopped there on the way to the crusades.
Elisabetta Fagiuoli and her husband Sergio came to Montenidoli in 1965 from Veneto. They were greeted by abandoned fields and wild olive trees. With patience and dedication they restored the vineyards following an organic approach. Known for treating the land with the greatest of respect, it is no surprise that their wines are so delicious.
This Vernaccia “Tradizionale” is vinified following (as the name suggests) the old local traditions. Before fermentation, the must is macerated on the skin to fully capture the aromatic complexity of the vernaccia grape.
In the glass the wine is a brilliant and vivid gold. The nose is penetrating and aromatic. Notes of grapefruit, seville orange and nectarine are followed by savoury nuances of hay and dried herbs wrapped in a lovely earthiness. The earthy character evolves into reminiscences of acacia leaves, sage, dill and smoke. On the palate, the wine is rich and textured, with a crisp acidity and focused flavours. Notes of grapefruit, nectarine, even a touch of pineapple. A splendid earthy and herbal note emerges in the mid-palate (sage, tarragon, dill). The flavour intensity verges to ‘pronounced’. The finish is lovely and savoury with a hint of sage and almond. A splendid vernaccia!