2023 Soave Classico, Pieropan, Veneto

£17.75 inc. VAT

Pieropan’s estate covers 58 hectares of vineyard which are situated on the stony hills of Soave Classico. The Pieropan family has been producing wines in Soave since the 1890s. Indeed, they were the first producer to bottle a wine with the name Soave on the label in the early 1930s. Nino Pieropan took over from his father in 1970 and was the first producer in Soave to make a single-vineyard wine, ‘Calvarino’, in 1971. Nino’s two sons, Andrea and Dario, took over the running of the estate in 2017.  From the 2015 vintage onwards, all Pieropan wines are organically certified. The soil is clay-basalt and volcanic in origin. Yields are low and the vines are south facing. The fruit comes from hillside vineyards (100 – 300 metres above sea level) in the heart of the Soave Classico area.

The Trebbiano di Soave grapes were hand picked from mid-September, while the Garganega grapes were picked later in October. The grapes were destemmed and crushed, with the free run juice fermented separately between 14-18°C in glass-lined cement tanks. The wine remained on its fine lees for a period of time, which varies according to the vintage. In the spring following the harvest, the wine was bottled and then released after at least a further month in bottle.

This is a fresh and expressive Soave, with classic aromas of white flowers, almond blossoms, marzipan and a touch of citrus. Rounded, ripe fruit is perfectly balanced by a fresh, clean acidity. Long and fragrant, it has a note of fine, almond pastry on the finish.