Description
Gaja are the famous winery of Piedmont, in northern Italy, where they make reds for long cellaring, to much acclaim. It was a surprise when they went to Sicily, but proof is in the drinking, as they say! This wine was made jointly with a respected winery known as Graci, who specialise in Mount Etna wines. The two families grow grapes on the southern slopes for this Idda Bianco wine, using the white Carricante grape variety. Carricante is a distinctive and high-quality grape that is garnering significant attention, particularly from Etna where it grows so well on the volcanic soils here. The wine has notes of tomato leaf, sage and melon, with some honey, dough, and spice from partial oak ageing. It is a complex and firm-structured wine, for decanting if drinking now, or long ageing. At the start it might seem austere or very citrus-led, but as it opens it reveals lots of flavour, complexity and lovely richness underneath. Drink now or store for up to another 4 or 5 years. It’s a delight, and a great change for those looking to stray outside classic fine wine territory such as Burgundy or the Loire. 13% alcohol.
