Pieropan Soave Classico La Rocca 2020
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Suckling
James -
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Winemaker Notes
The La Rocca vineyard is located on the hill of Mount Rocchetta near the medieval Scaligero castle of Soave. La Rocca enjoys a particular microclimate that allows to obtain a wine with unique and non-reproducible bouquet and taste notes, typical of a purebred wine. Innovative since its debut in 1978, it has marked a deep furrow in the territory becoming an undisputed symbol of quality and tradition.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A complex, layered and creamy Soave with aromas of flint, smoked almonds, nutmeg, charred lemon, grilled pineapple and thyme. Medium to full body. There’s so much going on, from subtle spice to ripe citrus and buttery, creamy undertones. Long and compact. From organically grown grapes.
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine is so complex and intriguing you have to just sit with it. Aromas of roasted apples drizzled with honey, dried flowers and candied orange zest are just the tip of the wine. It continues to evolve until you run out and want more. The palate has an amazing texture with weight yet acidity to balance out the richness of the ripe orchard fruits, baking spices and orange blossom flavors. Enjoy it now or be rewarded with more time in the cellar. Drink now–2035.
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Enclosed by the original town walls and dominated by its medieval fortress, Soave has a peaceful, timeless quality about it. In the heart of the old town is the winery of Leonildo and Teresita Pieropan, which goes back to 1860. The present Leonildo ("Nino")'s grandfather, Leonildo Senior, founded the estate and 'invented' Recioto di Soave, a concentrated dessert wine applying a system similar to Tuscany's governo to the indigenous, white Garganega grape.
Today, the estate's 74 acres under vine include three single vineyards, all within the historical backbone of the Soave appellation (Soave Classico): Calvarino, La Rocca and Le Colombare. Terrain is respectively clayey/basaltic, calcareous/clayey, and clayey/marly/tuffaceous, yielding small crops of highly concentrated Garganega and Trebbiano grapes. The range is crafted by Leonildo himself, whose wine-making genius, constant research and innovative methods have carved a unique niche for these exceptional, extract-full and long-living whites that go far, far beyond their own appellation.
One of Italy’s classic white varieties, Garganega flourishes in the rolling vineyards surrounding the medieval village of Soave and is the dominant variety in the wine from the region, aptly known as, Soave. By law it makes up 70-100% of the blend with the remainder traditionally finished off by Trebbiano di Soave for its crispness. Somm Secret—The best Soave wines, measurably elegant and vibrant, come from the Soave Classico zone, in the center of Soave, where the hills are made of decomposed volcanic and granitic soils.
Among Italy’s classic whites capable of great potential, Soave is named after the medieval village and surrounding hillsides from whence it comes. The original, historical Soave zone, delimited back in 1927, covers the eastern, volcanic hillsides of today's general Soave zone and is called Soave Classico.
Garganega, the indigenous grape responsible for great Soave, produces medium bodied white wines with fine acidity. Typical in the best Soaves are lively flowery and fresh herbal aromas and flavors such as orange zest, peach, melon and marjoram. The best can take some age and in so doing, develop notes of chamomile, marmalade and honey.
By the 1960s and 70s, Soave was enjoying such a glorious global reputation, that its demand forced growers to push beyond the zone's original borders. Expansion led west out of the hills and onto the alluvial plain of the Adige River. This, coupled with an increase in yields and allowance of additional varieties such as Trebbiano, Chardonnay and Pinot blanc, met demand but created a softer, fruit-forward, everyday Soave. Today the broader region can be the source of charming and value driven whites. But those labeled as Soave Classico or in rare cases, as Soave Colli Scaligeri (nearby hillside vineyards abutting the Classico zone), will be the best quality and age-worthy Soaves. These are often 100% Garganega.