Winemaker Notes
The fruit is from 10 hectares of various vineyards on the Felici farm, from 10- to 40-year-old vines. The vineyards are between 500 and 600m above sea level; Leo's vineyard site at 600m is the highest in the appellation. Harvest was in late September/early October at yields of 11,000kg/ha (about 60hl/ha). Fermentation is in conrete vats and stainlees steel tanks. About half the harvest is macerated a few days on the skins during fermentation. Malolactic fermentation does not take place. Aged on its lees for 6 to 12 months, with six staggered bottlings taking place.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A spicy wine full of white pepper and lanolin, chalky tones and citrus notes. Medium-bodied, this has racy acidity and a bit of a raw finish with a biting aftertaste that’s long and peatlike.
One of central Italy’s classic white grapes, Verdicchio thrives in two distinct zones of the Marche. The best vineyards of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi adorn hillsides a mere 20 miles from the Adriatic Sea. The vineyards of the smaller, more inland Verdicchio di Matelica, are at higher elevation. Somm Secret—Recent genetic discoveries have proven that the Verdicchio grape is identical to Trebbiano di Soave, Trebbiano di Lugana and Trebbiano Veltenesi.
Stretching along Italy’s eastern coast with neighbors, Umbria to its west and Abruzzo to its south, Marche is a region with a varying climate from north to south. Its coastal plains roll into hills that become the Apennine Mountains, which run the length of the country. The Marche's best red wines come from the grapes, Montepulciano and Sangiovese; the local Verdicchio makes refreshing, crisp and light whites.