Bucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Riserva 2013
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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.
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.