Garofoli makes this in the rolling hills south of Ancona, in the Marche, from Verdicchio grown on the classic side of the zone. It is a Riserva, the top tier of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, and 2016 gave the region a warm, steady growing season.
- Verdicchio, the Marche's own white grape.
- Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Riserva, the appellation's top tier.
- 2016, a warm year in the Marche.
- 14% alcohol, dry, high acidity, medium body.
- 750ml.
How it is made
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi is a small zone in the Marche, and the Classico part marks the historic heart of it, the hills closest to the town of Jesi. Riserva is the stricter tier: the wine has to spend longer in the cellar before release, which is why the best Verdicchio tends to arrive with a few years on it and a deeper colour than the grape's reputation suggests.
How it tastes
Green apple and citrus up front, then white flowers and a clear almond note that is the grape's signature. There is a mineral edge underneath and the acidity stays high, so the fruit reads ripe without going soft. The finish is long and savory rather than sweet.
Good to know
Verdicchio has been grown around Jesi for centuries, and the zone's producers have long argued it ages like a serious white, not a simple one. The almond bitterness on the finish is the tell: it is a flavour the grape gives almost anywhere it is planted well, and it is the reason Verdicchio is often described as a white with a red wine's structure.
Contains alcohol.
