Cantine del Notaio Basilicata La Raccolta Bianco Secco 2008
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Upon inheriting the Cantine del Notaio estate from his father, proprietor Gerardo Giuratrabocchetti left a previous career to become a winemaker and brought enologist Luigi Moio of the University of Naples on board as consultant, with the aim of restoring their ancient glory to the wines of the Aglianico del Vulture DOC. There are only a few estates who bottle their own wine in Vulture and Notaio is one of them. These miniscule-production Aglianico wines from the esteemed Rionero zone are fragrant and sweet in the nose, with powerful yet restrained tannins and dense blue- and blackberry fruit with licorice notes. The estate's 27 hectares are divided into 5 different vineyards, and with the exception of 1 very old-vine vineyard, each is planted with identical plants of the same age.
Notaio’s cellars are located in a group of ten underground grottos that once belonged to Franciscan monks. The estate is at the forefront of clonal experimentation, with 40 different ancient clones currently under cultivation for study.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
Inhabiting the arch of Italy’s boot, this southern, mountainous region has a relatively small amount of vineyard area under vine. Basilicata has one DOCG for its prized red grape, Aglianico, Aglianico del Vulture Superior, which is limited to the slopes of an extinct volcano. The best whites are made of Malvasia bianca.