Elisabetta Fagiuoli Montenidoli Vernaccia di San Gimignano "Montenidoli Tradizionale" 2009

In a region dominated by red wines, Vernaccia stands as Tuscany’s premier white wine. Vernaccia finds its singular voice in the predominately sandy soils around the medieval hillside village of San Gimignano. This bold, rich and long-macerated Vernaccia from the Montenidoli domaine shows the serious, age-worthy side of this much beloved appellation. A deep golden hue in the bowl, Montenidoli’s Vernaccia segues to cast expansive aromas of Jonagold apples, beeswax and Mirabelle plums. Intense and palate staining, the wine melds chewy red pear fruit with suggestions of bay leaf, hops, wildflower honey and dusty minerals. Long, resinous and tactile on the finish with added notes of raw almonds and straw, this serious, genre-busting 100% Vernaccia raises the bar for the denominazione in terms of complexity, intensity, richness and age-ability. Serve with richer fare such as poultry, pork and game birds, grilled prawns, or steak fishes such as swordfish, ahi or opah. It will also pair well with difficult green vegetables like steamed asparagus and artichoke, as well as with salty cheeses such as pecorino. Enjoy this superb Vernaccia now or over the coming two years.

A December 2012 Newsletter selection.