Farnese I Muri Bianco 2014
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Fantini by Farnese wines are a reflection of the colors of Abruzzo, painting wonderful landscapes of taste and living for the love of the endless vineyards protected by Mount Majella’s motherly roundness. One can see them sliding down from the hills to the sea, seeking an optimum exposure and enjoying an excellent microclimate that the whole of Europe envies us. This is the reason why the fruits of this land grow so well and age even better. The most advanced technology is absolutely necessary to enable the features of their grapes to be transferred intact to the bottle. Maniacal attitudes while working in the vineyards are pointless if we are unable to maintain certain standards when bottling. At Farnese they believe we cannot produce a great wine without constant supervision on behalf of expert winemakers which is the reason why in each vintage 6 successful winemakers live in perfect harmony with the grapes that arrive at the winery and are turned into great wines.
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.
Well-suited to the production of concentrated, fruity and spicy red varieties, Puglia is one of Italy’s warmest, most southerly regions. Its entire eastern side is one long coastline bordering the Adriatic Sea. About half way down, the region becomes the Salento Peninsula. This peninsula, bordered by water on three sides, receives moist, nighttime, sea breezes that bring a welcome cooling effect to the region, where little rain creates a challenging environment for its vines. In fact, the region is named for the Italian expression, “a pluvia,” meaning “lack of rain.”
Puglia’s Mediterranean climate and iron-rich, calcareous soils support the indigenous Primitivo, Negroamaro and Nero di Troia. Primitivo produces an inky, spicy, brambly and ripe red wine whose best expression comes from Manduria. Nero di Troia produces tannic, rustic reds from Castel del Monte DOC while Negroamaro, typically blended with Malvasia nera, plays a large part in may blends made throughout the peninsula.
Puglia produces a small amount of white wines as well, predominantly made of the fruity, Trebbiano Toscano, or light, Bombino bianco grapes.