2018 Suavia ‘Monte Carbonare’ Soave Classico (release the balloons!)
This wine is just crazy good, shockingly so. Made of 100% Garganega (yes, I know, you’ve never heard of the grape), from the (no longer very) famous wine region of Soave, in Veneto, in northeast Italy, it’s just exciting and compelling and delicious and, and, and…our wine of the year.
This is what the winery (Suavia) says about the wine:
‘WE ALWAYS SAY THAT THIS WINE “IS LIKE A BIT OF EARTH IN A GLASS.”AND IT’S TRUE. IN THE MONTE CARBONARE VINEYARD THE VINES SINK THEIR ROOTS DEEP DOWN INTO THE BLACK EARTH; PURE VOLCANO. THIS GIVES THE WINE PERSONALITY: FORTHRIGHT AND TRUTHFUL, WITH A SHARP MINERAL NATURE. IT TASTES OF RAIN ON FLINT, ON THE BLACK STONES OF THE DRY WALLS, AND OF THAT GOOD FRAGRANCE THAT THE COUNTRYSIDE RELEASES WHEN DAMPENED BY THE FIRST RAIN.’
Yeah, okay, that’s a very well crafted marketing message, but, its spot on and yet doesn’t entirely tell you enough about this wine because it’s also rich and full and while not particularly fruit driven, is lush and exotic and forward. Forward like white Burgundy or Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc, but not really reminiscent of those, but rather its evocative of those dramatically sexy white wines but still very much its own thing. It’s fermented in stainless and then spends 15 months in tank on its lees and 5 months in bottle before release. The result is a wine of transparency and yet voluptuous intensity. And (and!) we have it on sale for $25.99 and (and!) we have 50 bottles on hand.
So, there you have it…compelling, affordable, available. I really and truly hope you like it as much as we do…and Happy New Year!