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2019 Valtènesi “La Botte Piena”
La BasiaLombardia is not particularly renowned for wine, but a closer look reveals a number of small growing regions offering something unique.
Italy’s rich tradition of viticulture is illustrated not only by the great wines from prestigious appellations such as Barolo and Brunello but also by the wealth of gems found in lesser-known regions all over the country. Lombardia is not particularly renowned for wine, but a closer look reveals a number of small growing regions offering something unique. The Valtènesi zone, along the southwestern shore of Lake Garda, is one such example, and the delicious, easy-drinking reds produced here offer tremendous value—not to mention a surefire cure for a jaded palate. In this example from La Basia, a small family farm producing wine as well as a fantastic stone-ground polenta, the local Groppello grape stars alongside Sangiovese, Marzemino, and Barbera. Aged in concrete tanks and bottled unfiltered, it benefits from a slight chill: with loads of fresh fruit, a peppery crunch, bright acidity, and light, smooth tannins, this under-the-radar rosso is about as gulpable as they come.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2019 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Gropello, Sangiovese, Marzemino, Barbara |
Appellation: | Valtènesi DOC |
Country: | Italy |
Region: | Lombardy |
Producer: | La Basia |
Winemaker: | Giacomo Tincani |
Vineyard: | 15 – 50 years, 3 ha |
Soil: | Moraine, with sandy clay |
Aging: | Maceration lasts 6 days, then wine is aged for 9 months in stainless steel tanks, and aged in bottle for at least 3 months |
Farming: | Sustainable |
Alcohol: | 12% |
About The Producer
La Basia
About The Region
Lombardy
Italy’s most populous region and the home of its most influential wine critic, the late Luigi Veronelli of Milan, Lombardia holds its share of enological secrets. Dominated by the vast expanses of the Po Valley, the region encompasses Alpine peaks in the north, along the Swiss border, as well as Apennine foothills in its southwest where viticulture plays a major role.
The metodo classico sparklers of Franciacorta, plus Oltrepò Pavese’s still and sparkling wines, enjoy the most renown, yet Lombardia’s richness of different soils and microclimates mean there is much more for the curious palate. The Alpine Nebbiolos of Valtellina are certainly of note, while the region’s picturesque lakes (Maggiore, Como, and Garda, to name a few) provide a moderating effect on climate favorable to high-quality wine production.
The southern shores of Lake Garda in particular boast a number of interesting wine zones. Indigenous grapes like Groppello and Marzemino thrive in these soils of glacial deposit, creating unique reds (plus the ubiquitous Chiaretto rosé) from the Garda and Valtènesi DOCs. The wines of our first and only Lombardia producer, La Basia, are delicious representations of this middle ground between plains and mountains, and perfectly complement the region’s famous cheeses and other local specialties.
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.
Inspiring Thirst, page 171