'A Vita - Luekò Bianco 2021

'A Vita is located in Cirò, on the arch of Italy’s boot tip, nestled between the Ionian sea and Sila mountains. Wine has been made from Cirò since the time of the ancient Olympics. Francesco and his wife Laura de Franco moved back to his native Calabria to make wines sustainably after finishing oenology studies. They purchased 4 vineyards and 8 hectares of vines planted in the historic alberello method, with each vine staked independently to allow for maximum air and light flow. From Frassà vineyard, near sea level, this is a certified organic 70/30 blend of Greco Bianco and Gaglioppo, with the greco receiving a few hours of skin contact before it was native cofermented, prior to 8 months in steel, on lees. It was bottled without fining or filtration. Pouring a deep golden hue, this fills the palate with a grippy, herbal, pitchy scrub of bergamot, apricot, pear, wild herbs and broken stones. Texture is high, and acidity is moderate, finishing with a gentle astringent rinse. Super interesting and detailed taste of history (and tasty too).