Banfi makes this in Montalcino, in southern Tuscany, from Pinot Grigio picked early enough to keep its acidity. It is bottled under Toscana IGT, the broad regional appellation that lets a Tuscan estate work with grapes beyond the classic Sangiovese. The result is a white that sits lighter and leaner than the Pinot Grigio most people know from the Veneto.
- Pinot Grigio, the only grape in the bottle.
- Toscana IGT, the regional appellation of Tuscany.
- 2019, a warm vintage across central Italy.
- 12.5% ABV, light body, dry.
- Medium acidity, low tannin.
How it is made
Pinot Grigio is a mutation of Pinot Noir, and the skins carry a faint copper-pink colour. In Tuscany the grape ripens under warmer, steadier sun than in the north, so the wines tend to show riper fruit and a rounder mid-palate. Fermentation is cool and in stainless steel, which protects the aromatics.
How it tastes
Green apple and pear lead, with citrus and a thread of white flowers. The palate is dry and light on its feet, medium in acidity, and finishes with a clean mineral edge. Ripe pear and white peach fill out the middle, giving it a lush, fruity close.
Good to know
Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are the same grape. The name changes with the place and the style: Pinot Grigio in Italy, Pinot Gris in Alsace, where the wines are richer and often sweeter. Tuscany has grown the grape for decades, mostly as a fresh, unoaked white for the table.
