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Passobianco 2018 75cl

IGT | Terre Siciliane | Sicily | Italy
CHF 31.35
Critics scores
92 By Robert Parker
A pure expression of Chardonnay, the Passopisciaro Vini Franchetti 2018 Passobianco is a generous wine with lots of honey, dried apricot and apple baked in butter. Ultimately, this expression from the volcanic soils of Etna stands apart from other great renditions of this versatile grape thanks to those dusty or ashy mineral notes as well as those slightly exotic hints of saffron and ground cumin. It is aged in oak casks and cement for 10 months. The wine's appearance is golden and bright, and the palate carries generous fruit weight and concentrated flavors. Grapes come from high-density vineyards at an impressive 850 to 1,000 meters in elevation from the terraces of Contrada Guardiola and Monte Dolce. Some 40,000 bottles were made.
Producer
Tenuta di Trinoro & Passopisciaro
Found in the most remote corners of the region, where Tuscany meets Umbria and Lazio, there lies Tenuta di Trinoro. Andrea Franchetti established the estate upon this virgin wine territory of Sarteano in 1992. Today, Franchetti remains one of the most extreme winemakers in Italy, continuing to push traditional French viticulture models. He planted Bordeaux varieties at altitudes up to 500-700 meters, at super high densities, and then picks them as late as possible, even in November. He goes on to vinify every little parcel individually so he can meticulously monitor each one’s development, selecting only the best for the Tenuta di Trinoro cuvée. Clearly, the terroir is particular, given not only its lavishness but also the originality that it brings to the wines. Low-yields also enhance the wine’s structured black fruit and wild herb essences. As much as we admire Franchetti’s Tenuta di Trinoro – based on Cabernet Franc with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot – his second label, Le Cupole, offers a quality-price ratio that is too good to believe.