Bianco di Ampeleia IGT 2022

Wine description for Bianco di Ampeleia IGT 2022 by Ampeleia

Colour & appearance

Old gold to pale amber, with a silky matte haze — a white wine that visibly bears the mark of its two days on the skins. The colour alone signals: no concession has been made to pleasing paleness here.

Nose

Initially citrus and wet blackboard chalk, then orange blossom and a hint of black tea. Sliced, mealy apple joins in, along with peach stone, light tobacco and pome fruit skins. With air, the nose gains noticeable depth — a wine that evolves in the glass.

Palate

Astringent tannins on the attack, accompanied by a fresh line of acidity that drives the wine forward with tension. No overt fruit — aroma and structure take the lead here. The tonality is decidedly major key, and despite the influence of skin contact, the flow remains remarkably lively. At just 10.5% abv, it is a wine of astonishing lightness of foot.

Finish

Dry, marked by fine tannins and a saline, almost chalky note that lingers long.

Terroir & origin

The vines are planted at 300 to 500 metres in the Alta Maremma near Roccatederighi, some 30 kilometres from the sea. Cool winds and the altitude bring freshness to the grapes even in hot summers. Ampeleia has farmed its 35 hectares biodynamically since 2009 — the Demeter logo adorns the label.

Grape varieties & vinification

Trebbiano, Malvasia and Ansonica, replanted in a traditional field blend from massale selection of an old vineyard. Hand-harvested, co-fermented on the skins for two days, spontaneous fermentation, six months’ maturation in large concrete tanks. Around 35,000 bottles have been produced each year since the inaugural 2016 vintage.

Food pairings

The tannic structure and herbal spice make it an ideal partner for pea and mint soup, sea bass with artichokes à la barigoule, or a whole guinea fowl roasted with chilli and sage.

Special features

A skin-contact white from a field blend in Tuscany — where Sangiovese usually reigns supreme. Marco Tait vinifies it without any wood, solely in breathable cement. The result is a wine that grows rounder and more elegant with each passing year of its co-planted vines.