Roncaiolo Apassite 2017

Montecrocetta is a 33 hectare winery located between Gambellara and Soave in the Veneto region. The Roncaiolo vintage which is a blend of 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested by hand and carefully selected. The grapes come from 32-year-old vines, from basalt tuff hills of volcanic origin. This vintage is made using the “ ripasso ” method with double fermentation. This means that the wine goes through a 2nd fermentation thanks to contact with the grape skins used for the production of Argione: an Amarone which does not have the appellation, produced by the oenologist Graziano Maule. The aging is then done partly in used French barrels and partly in concrete vats. It ends with 6 months in bottles before marketing. This wine reveals aromas of blackberry , violet , plum , black cherry , blueberry, raspberry , dried strawberry , cinnamon , pink pepper , leather and chocolate . The palate is intense, supple, with a fine and delicate texture. The finish is persistent on dried fruits and spices.

Ah Italy, what a beautiful hedonistic country, people of the Dolce Vita, but what difficulty in understanding its wine organization! The key to understanding the naming system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous country because each region has its own naming system. Italy can, however, give wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, as well as bottles filled with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless and characterless wines which are sold under their most useful and commercially reputable name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others... But let's talk a little history, viticulture in Italy dates back to ancient times and it originated in Greece. The Etruscans would have planted vines and Greek immigrants would have improved and modified the grape varieties who subsequently called this country "Oenotria": the country of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life and certain regions already stood out for the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible testimony to their invasion. Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic areas. The northern mountains experience a fairly harsh mountain climate. The “middle of the boot” plain is the domain of the continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the "southern part of the Italian boot" the Mediterranean climate reigns with very hot and very dry summers without forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In summary, Italy produces wines of great variety thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originate from their lands. It is a country just as complex as its wines which deserve to be explored!