Baccabianca - 2008
Tenuta Grillo
- Region
- Italy 禄 Vino
- Type
- white still, dry
- Producer
- Tenuta Grillo
- Vintage
- 2008
- Grapes
- Cortese
- Alcohol
- 12
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Cellar
- 1 bottles
- Find at
Baccabianca is a unique 100% Cortese skin-contact wine. It comes from vines that are 40 and 15 years old. It undergoes 60 days of skin contact with native yeasts, spontaneous fermentation, 12 months of ageing in steel tanks, and 5 years in bottles. Around 6000 bottles are produced annually.
Ratings
It's not often that I enjoy an 'orange' wine, but some are so distinct, unique, and well-made that they leave me in awe. This one is just beautiful鈥攁n age-defining Cortese. A non-vulgar and charming bouquet of pine nut, apricot jam, dried herbs, cherry plum, and a touch of VA. Almost perfectly balanced, with nice intensity and delicate tannins. Mature, yet so fresh. This wine shows rustic charm and deep elegance.
Wow. A serious, sophisticated, and non-vulgar skin-contact wine. Notes of apricot jam, dried herbs, dried apricot, cherry plum, and nuts, with some cognac-like hints. But what stands out is how balanced and seamless it is, while still maintaining intensity鈥攖annins are powerful, but mature and integrated. Quaffable.
Tenuta Grillo
Tenuta Grillo was founded in 2002 in Monferrato (Piedmont) by Guido Zampaglione, originally from Campania. His plan was simple鈥攖o start small and gradually increase yearly production to 80,000 bottles. But somewhere along the way, Guido realised he couldn't and didn't want to pursue that goal. For him, being fully involved in the winemaking process, including growing the grapes, to create uncompromisingly high-quality wines with strong ageing potential, was the priority. Considering that he enjoys drinking mature wines himself, he releases them onto the market after some decent ageing in bottles.
The vineyards are located in the Monferrato region, near a small village called Gamalero. The vines grow in sandy, quick-draining soil on a gently sloping upland about 350 meters above sea level. The continental climate is characterised by great heat during the day, while the nights are cooler. Wine production is based on low yields and a meticulous selection of the grapes. Winemaking features long macerations (often several weeks), indigenous yeasts, minimal use of sulfur dioxide, and the exclusion of other additives. Ageing primarily occurs in large wooden barrels.