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2020 Vino Bianco “Modestu”
Giovanni MontisciPerhaps the Mediterranean’s most ancient and historically prized grape variety, Moscato finds a special home in the highlands of central Sardinia, perched some 2,500 feet above the coastal paradise for which the island is known. Montisci’s bone-dry rendition from very old bush vines is unlike any other Moscato in the world: skin-fermented, barrel-aged, and unfiltered, it recalls the fleshy texture of a ripe yellow peach before herbal and salty, mineral nuances kick in an extra gear of savory complexity. “With Moscato, all the flavor is in the skins,” Giovanni asserts. Drink it cool, not cold, and let it breathe to experience the full spectrum.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Moscato |
Appellation: | Vino da Tavola |
Country: | Italy |
Region: | Sardinia |
Producer: | Giovanni Montisci |
Winemaker: | Giovanni Montisci |
Vineyard: | 60 years |
Soil: | Sandy granite, clay |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 14% |
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About The Producer
Giovanni Montisci
About The Region
Sardinia
Our first foray into Sardegna is very recent, and it only took one trip to fall in love with the island, its culture, and its wines. Similar to its northerly neighbor, Corsica, there is a strong regional identity here that goes far beyond its official status as one of Italy’s twenty regions. Its people are proud, strong-willed, and deeply attached to their traditions—a distinctive character often seen with island people and accentuated by its long history of invasions and outside rule.
This tumultuous past has resulted in diverse influences—Greek, Roman, Aragonese, Catalan, and Ligurian, just to name a few—that have shaped the island’s culture, language, cuisine, and wines over many centuries. While Vermentino and Cannonau (aka Grenache) reign, Sardegna also boasts a number of indigenous grapes that are capable of expressing something unique in its abundant variety of terroirs.
The Mediterranean plays a major role, providing cooling, salty breezes to coastal areas, while the rugged, mountainous interior is home to high-altitude sites where wines retain freshness in spite of the southerly latitude. The granitic highlands of Gallura and Barbagia come to mind as some of its most qualitative zones, but a range of soils, elevations, and varying distance to the sea mean that the island is capable of producing wines in all styles, from crisp whites to powerful reds and exquisite vini dolci.
The three growers we represent bring something new to the table, something fascinating that is not found elsewhere in Italy or even in nearby Corsica. Their wines evoke the rustic beauty of this fascinating island civilization, and of course, pair perfectly with the local cuisine, be it seafood-based or the hearty, earthy specialties of its interior.
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Giovanni Montisci Italy | Sardinia
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2020 Vino Rosso “Barrolu”
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2021 Vino Bianco “Modestu”
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
If you're looking for value, look where no one else is looking.
Inspiring Thirst, page 211