Passopisciaro

Viticulturally, the 2008 vintage started in 2007 when vines had reached the end of the November harvest unstressed from a tempered year and ready to enter the winter’s rest well nourished. There was then good hydration from repeated snowfalls on the mountain, and the hot three months of July, August and September were not able to stress the plants enough to halt the quick development through the growing and ripening stages. Some tiredness due to the dried-out soils came in October, but rains were already on the horizon and brought water in just the right quantity. They made the year a great vintage, with us picking continuously from the 23rd to the end of the month. 2008 is the first year we decided to bottle this Contrada separately.

Vineyard age: 80 years

Vineyard density: 8,000 vines per Ha

Vineyard altitude: 550 m a.s.l.

Yield per hectare: 20 Hl/Ha

Fertilization: None

Spraying: Clay, propolis, sulphur, copper, grapefruit seed extract

Harvest: 23-31 October

Vinification: Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel vats for 10 days

Aging: Malolactic fermentation followed by 18 months aging in large, neutral oak barrels