Montecrocetta - Recioto di Gambellara "Passitaia" - 2005

From the hills of Gambellara, in the province of Vicenza in the heart of the Veneto, Passitaia is made from Garganega, the emblematic grape variety of the region. The Montecrocetta and Monte di Mezzo vineyards lie on hillside soils made up of basaltic tuffs and volcanic materials, which give the wine a remarkable personality. Gambellara's temperate climate, influenced by the surrounding hills, favours slow, steady ripening of the grapes. This volcanic terroir is a particularly well-suited setting for making concentrated sweet wines that still retain lovely freshness. Fermentation was carried out in neutral vats, extremely slowly, until the end of spring. 50% of the wine was then put into used barriques for 24 to 36 months, without topping up. The rest of the wine remained in neutral vats. A slow oxidation-reduction process then begins in the barriques, accompanied by a slight refermentation due to the native yeasts. The tank wines and barrique wines are finally blended for bottling. This wine reveals notes of acacia honey, candied fruit, mirabelle plum, dried mango, dried flowers and ripe apricot, joined by hints of fig, dried fruit and incense. On the palate, the texture is sweet, ample and generous, carried by a remarkable concentration of fruit and residual sugar. Lively acidity nevertheless brings freshness and perfectly balances the richness of the wine. The texture is unctuous and enveloping, while the very long finish extends the honeyed, spicy and slightly balsamic notes. Residual sugar: 110 g/l