2010 La Soraia Gavi di Gavi DOCG Piedmont Italy

La Soraia Gavi di Gavi Piedmont Italy

La Soraia is located in Bosio, a little commune about 5.6 kilometers south of Gavi, one of the numerous appellations or DOC of the Piedmont region surrounding the eponymous village, northwestern part of Italy.

La Soraia is one of the oldest producers of Gavi di Gavi Docg from estate-grown Cortese grapes (it is enrolled as bottler n.4 in the district’s land archives!). The estate dates back to the first half of the XX century and the property vineyards have been run by the Natalino family ever since.

The Soraia vineyard is located at 550 mt asl, planted on a high-altitude site long renowned for its calcareous white soil and steep south-east exposure. The combination of good exposure, high altitude and limestone soil make for a very nervy, sharp and flinty-stony Gavi di Gavi DOCG, bearing resemblance with a fine village Sancerre or Muscadet.

Nowadays, Guido Natalino keeps growing his 30 year old Cortese grapes in accordance to a few simple principles of non- intrusive, low-impact viticulture (zero pesticides, zero systemic treatments, no use of chemical herbicides). Cortese grapes are hand-picked around the end of September / beginning of October. The vine density is up to 5.000 plants per hectare, and the average grape yield x Ha. is down to 6 tons. Malolactic fermentation is let occur or intentionally prevented depending on the quality of the crop and the seasonal weather conditions.

The cellar protocol is simple: Guido makes Gavi, Dolcetto Ovada and Barbera on his own, trusting his own palate and going for a traditional white wine fermentation in stainless steel vats at controlled-temperature (plus a short stay on the lees in stainless steel vats, prior to bottling).

In addition to his prized Gavi Docg and Gavi di Gavi Docg, Guido makes two traditional reds worth your attention: an elegant, warming and savory Barbera d'Asti aged in old French oak tonneaux, and a super fruity, crunchy and delicious Dolcetto di Ovada Doc (Ovada being the true ancient cradle and homeland of the Dolcetto variety, which later spread through the rest of Piedmont; here the soil is pure white chalk, which results in a more refined, lighter-color yet more complex style of Dolcetto, reminiscent of a Cru Beaujolais).

2010 La Soraia Gavi di Gavi Piedmont Italy
Suggested retail price $14-$17
Imported / distributed by Moonlight Wine Co. in NYC

Made from 100% Cortese grapes grown with organic practices in limestone-rich Piedmontese soil near Gavi, the 2010 La Soraia Gaivi di Gavi displays delicate, light, fresh and zesty, lemony aromas with fresh almond touch combined with floral, sappy and flinty hints. Coating, juicy and crisp, the palate is also light, fresh and fragrant, loaded with minerality and zesty lemon, yellow fruit flavors. The finish is extremely mineral and integrated .It definitely calls for another glass. Versatile, elegant, food friendly and summery, it will pair well with fish, cold pasta salads, grilled poultry, Mediterranean dishes and feta, goat or mozzarella cheeses.

Enjoy!

LeDom du Vin

Info about the winery courtesy of the importer website at http://www.moonlightwineco.com/la-soraia/ and the man behind Moonlight Wine, Tony Gibson.

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2008 Araldica "La Luciana" Gavi Piedmont Italy

2008 Araldica "La Luciana" Gavi Piedmont Italy
Suggested retail price $10-$12
Distributed by VIAS Imports in NYC

A DOC since 1974 and a DOCG since 1998, Gavi is an appellation surrounding the village of the same name and expands to 11 villages in total, located in the southern part of Piedmont (northwestern Italy). Gavi produces mainly two whites Gavi and Cortese di Gavi, both made primarily with the Cortese grape.

Gavi was one of the most fashionable Italian whites until about ten years ago and some now well established brands, like "La Scolca" became one of the benchmark. A Spumante is also available but less well known. Gavi di Gavi (like La Scolca) is a label term only authorized for the producers who own vineyards in the village of Gavi.

In Italy and in the US, for years, Gavi was Italy's standard white. Over the last decade, the US market have seen an increased on other Italian white wines made with more interesting and intriguing white grapes than Cortese, like: Falanghina, Greco, Vernaccia, Malvaisia, Passerina, Trebbiano, Verdicchio, Arneis, Fiano, Garganega, Moscato, Vermentino, Pinot Bianco and the now so famously common Pinot Grigio (and these are just some of Italy's major white grapes, there are quite a few more). However, let's get back to our Cortese based white.

Light to medium-bodied, Gavi usually presents a straw color and a golden apple mild aroma, and zesty character, very characteristic of the Cortese grape. It is high in acidity and presents floral and fruity, persistent flavors, with a dry and balanced palate. Gavi pairs very well with fish. It is best drunk young and usually reaches its peak after a about a year or two. The best Gavi(s) reveal great minerality and honey aromas, and can age a bit longer.

Araldica is a well-run co-operative which offers a rather more interesting family run company feeling, quality and consistency. For more info, go to their website at www.AraldicaVini.com

2008 Araldica "La Luciana" Gavi Piedmont Italy is clean, fresh and really inviting on the nose (and on the palate), with floral, green apple, touch of pear and citrus aromas. Very crisp mouthfeel, vivid and very enjoyable, with a good fruit richness and concentration. Zesty citrus fruit characters in the mid-palate with racy acidity and bright mineral notes. The finish is fairly long and clean. A delightful summery wine to enjoy as an aperitif, fresh vegetable or fruit salads. Somewhat ideal when combined with melon and Parma ham in the middle of a warm afternoon.

Enjoy!

LeDom du Vin

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