About This Wine
Widely regarded as one of Italy's premier white wines, Cervaro della Sala continues its legacy of rivaling the great Crus of Burgundy while maintaining a distinctly Umbrian identity. The 2023 vintage represents a highly refined, vertical, and energetic evolution for the estate under chief enologist Renzo Cotarella. A masterfully structured blend composed primarily of Chardonnay ...
About This Wine
Widely regarded as one of Italy's premier white wines, Cervaro della Sala continues its legacy of rivaling the great Crus of Burgundy while maintaining a distinctly Umbrian identity. The 2023 vintage represents a highly refined, vertical, and energetic evolution for the estate under chief enologist Renzo Cotarella. A masterfully structured blend composed primarily of Chardonnay with a small, strategic percentage of indigenous Grechetto, this vintage shifts away from smaller barrels toward larger oak foudres and eliminates bâtonnage (lees stirring). The result is a white wine of monumental precision, prioritizing mineral tension and pristine fruit over heavy oak influence.
Tasting Notes
On the nose, the 2023 vintage opens with an elegant, smoky reduction featuring notes of flint, crushed granite, and cedar. This quickly unfolds into layers of crisp yellow apple, pink grapefruit, and white flowers, accented by subtle undertones of salted butter, crème fraîche, and white chocolate.
The palate is full-bodied yet remarkably vibrant and weightless, driven by a powerful streak of acidity. A silky texture seamlessly carries flavors of lemon peel, toasted hazelnut, and mineral-infused apricot. It finishes with impressive length and structural energy, leaving a lingering note of citrus rind bitterness and salty minerality that ensures excellent cellar longevity.
Score
#45 Top 100 World Wines of 2024
98 points, James Suckling
