On the nose gentle floral aromas complemented by undertones of hazelnut and fresh herbs. In the mouth crispy and mildly astringent. The slightly bitter aftertaste is surprisingly long.
Grown in hillside vineyards surrounding the Tuscan town of San Gimignano, well known for its 14 medieval towers, the Vernaccia grapes must constitute at least 85% of the blend. Up to 15% can be provided by other nonaromatic white varieties approved by the DOCG “disciplinare”.
In 1966 Vernaccia di San Giminiano was the first Italian wine to be awarded Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) status. In 1993 it was upgraded to the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) designation. The first Italian white wine to earn this status.
It is a wine with old documented origins. In fact, the earliest recorded mention of the wine preserved in the archives of San Gimignano is dated 1276.
For this bottle I paid 5.70 EUR at Bennet in Italy. At this price I find that this simple, everyday white delivers good value. It makes me wanting to try a more upscale version, maybe a Riserva.
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Grapes: Vernaccia di San Giminiano
Type: White
Vintage: 2017
Producer: Fattoria il Palagio
Price range: Economic (<15 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 3/5