2020 TORETA – KORČULA, CROATIA
Pošip
Winemaking details: Toreta is perched above the Adriatic Sea in the village of Smokvica on the island of Korčula in Croatia. Toreta is named after the small round stone shelters built centuries ago to protect workers from the fierce winds and elements. There are only five of these old structures left on the Island and all of them are on the Toreta property, hence the name for the winery. Here Frano Banicević continues the family legacy of grape growing and winemaking that has been going on for generations, on the same land that his great grandfather originally founded the winery. This island is where the grape Pošip was first discovered, and Frano works wonders with this grape, as well as with other local varietals. He farms 5 hectares on red and iron rich soils, and the vines sit atop a windy hillside with good expose, helping to minimize disease pressure. The grapes are hand harvested and see 4 hours of skin contact before they are pressed whole cluster to stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Once racked after dry, the wine ages in 80% steel and 20% neutral Slovenian oak for 8 months prior to bottling
Color: Pale Yellow
Bouquet: Melon, green apple, honeycomb, acacia flowers, orange zest, light almond and herbs.
Palate: This is an incredibly well balanced expression of Pošip - pleasant fruit notes without being overly fruity, great texture without being too weighty, and present acidity with a mineral core. It has a great concentration of flavors and a lingering finish, yet somehow it is still quite refreshing and finishes light. This wine is great with a variety of dishes, and on the island most locals enjoy it daily in the summers with simple food. Try it with local bread, cheese, olive oil, and cured meats, or with grilled garden vegetables and local fish. For more special occasions the locals will make squid ink seafood risotto, octopus salad, fresh sea urchin, or local herbed goat cheese pasta.
This wine is meant to be consumed relatively young, and we recommend enjoying this wine now or within the next three years.
Further information can be found here: Toreta Winery
2019 NOELIA RICCI “IL SANGIOVESE” - EMILIA ROMANGA, ITALY
Sangiovese
Winemaking details: Noelia Ricci is the woman this winery is named after, and in 1980 when her father passed away, she took over operations, planting new vineyards and building a new winery. She is now training her son to be the fourth generation in the family to showcase the potential of the land and the wine they have been farming as a family for generations. They are located in the foothills of the Apennine Mountains in the sub-appellation of Predappio, next to the Rabbi River. The soil is calcareous yellow clay, having heavier clay content at higher elevations and more sand influence lower down closer to the river. These grapes are organic certified and all hand harvested, with the different clones harvested separately and then blended together later. After fermentation in stainless steel, the wine is pressed to tank where it undergoes malolactic fermentation and ages for 6 months. Once bottled, it rests for 8 months before release.
Color: Ruby Red
Bouquet: Roses, red currant, tobacco, tart cherry, light spice and herbs
Palate: This is a fresh, light hearted, and easy drinking wine. It has vibrant acidity, fine yet firm tannins, and crunchy fruits. While this is quite a fun and lighter bodied style of Sangiovese, it is still serious at the same time with energy, elegance, tension, depth, a light spice, and nuanced earthy tones. We recommend decanting this wine for an hour before enjoying with dishes like grilled squid, mushroom, and shishito skewers, fresh tagliolini with clams and chorizo, or grilled local salmon with tomato sauce, bacon, and herbs.
Drink this wine now, or cellar it for up to 3-5 years
Further information can be found here: Noelia Ricci