LE COSTE
Le Coste Bianco 2018
Lazio, Italy
From their most important cru, a vineyard planted at a density of over 10,000 plants per hectare, exposed east at 470 metres above sea level. It is around 60% Procanico, along with some Vermentino and other local varieties. In this vintage the grapes were harvested with a little botrytis, given a short maceration and gentle press and aged in old botti for two years. This is explosive and intense, offering great depth, texture and complexity and a long, salty finish.
Procanico, Malvasia di Candia, Malvasia Toscana, Vermentino
ABOUT THE PRODUCER
Gianmarco Antonuzzi and Clémentine Bouveron tend around 14 hectares of land, with vineyards amongst olive groves, chestnut trees, shrubs and oaks. Sat around Lago di Bolsena near Gianmarco’s childhood town of Gradoli in Lazio’s north, the soils are volcanic, rich in iron and minerals.
Vines are planted at a density of up to 10,000 plants per hectare, from a mix of massale selections and ungrafted vines. Everything is done by hand, with careful attention to the needs of each plant and while biodynamic principles are employed, the approach here goes above and beyond.
Each year they produce a dizzying number of different wines which are vinified in an ancient cellar in the village’s centre where nothing is added at any stage. To taste here is a real treat, Gianmarco is a master of élevage and a real patience in this respect results in some of the purest, most delicious wines we have tried. This is a fascinating project, where the passion and dedication of two people is single handedly putting one of Italy’s lesser known villages firmly on the map.