Verdicchio
75cl * 13.5% ABV * Matelica, Italy
Verdicchio di Matelica is grown at far greater altitudes in Italy that its more famous neighbour, Verdicchio di Castelli di Jesi. This slightly cooler climate makes the wines lighter and gives them more acidity. The resulting fruit character is so subtle they ferment using yeasts normally reserved for Champagne. This is because these yeasts don’t give the wine any particular fragrance and allow the fruit to speak for itself.
Taurus Team Tasting Note: Wonderful aromas of green apple peel, sharp citrus lemon, hazelnut and bitter almond. Clean and linear on the palate with a refreshing finish. Ideal for an aperitif.
Notes by Michael Palij MW: Prior to Aldo Cifola's father setting up La Monacesca in 1966 the Matelica valley was a viticultural no man's land, which seems silly given that Ian d’Agata describes Verdicchio as ‘potentially Italy’s finest white varietal’. Matelica’s unique microclimate (it is a dried lake bed so has no direct maritime exposure), ideal east-west exposure, high altitude (400 metres) and calcareous, mineral rich soils mean it is a no-brainer for high quality whites. Aldo didn’t just give Verdicchio a leg up; he sent it skyrocketing into First Class, winning consecutive Tre Bicchieri (one of the most prestigious awards an Italian wine can receive) at a time when Le Marche was infamous for villainous swill in amphora-shaped bottles.