Bucci Verdicchio Dei Castello di Jesi 2003

The Buccis have owned land and made wine in Castelli di Jesi since the 1700s, originating in one of the “castles” themselves-Montecarotto. Their impressive heritage might have daunted a lesser man. However, Ampelio Bucci has succeeded in maintaining the best of tradition, old vines, estate-grown fruit, and the use of native varieties, while revolutionizing quite a few of Italy’s traditional winemaking tenets. Most notably, the old assumption that whites should be lighter, crisper, shorter-lived and reds should steer clear of mellowness, liveliness, and fish. Ampelio work along with enologist Giorgio Grai. Not content with the estate’s longtime standing as the benchmark of the appellation, in 2002 Ampelio and Giorgio have worked to have the winery officially certified as 100% organic farming. Vinification and élevage take place in the underground winery, which maintains a naturally cool temperatures and makes refrigeration unnecessary: yet another example of Bucci’s devotion to being eco-friendly.