Prà Soave Classico - Monte Grande 2020

The best wines grown near the little town of Soave, just east of Verona, are some of Italy’s most interesting: vivid, fresh, flavorful, and capable of aging in the bottle. They are made of indigenous grape varieties grown in volcanic soils (this last being very rare in northern Italy). There are very few producers, however, at this peak of quality; Graziano Prà is one of them. He makes a range of Soaves, from the Otto, a brisk, distinctive wine that is a great introduction to the appellation, to the Staforte, Monte Grande and Colle Sant’Antonio bottlings, all different and distinctive. Graziano Prà is one of Italy’s best white wine producers.

Garganega is a white grape variety thought to be native to northern Italy and chiefly cultivated in the hills around the town of Soave, just east of Verona. (It is also grown in Sicily under the name Grecanico Dorato.) When grown for moderate yield it makes wines that have aromas and flavors of almonds, flowers, apple, and citrus, and very fresh acidity. It also makes excellent dried-grape dessert wines, amongst the best in Italy. The other quality grape used for the production of Soave is Trebbiano di Soave, which is a synonym for Verdicchio (another excellent variety, in other words, no relation to Trebbiano Toscano); Prà only uses Trebbiano di Soave in their Monte Grande (30%), all the other wines are entirely made of Garganega.

Garganega bunches are cut and dried on the vine for a month in mid Sept. Trebbiano is harvested in mid October. Controlled low temperature fermentation in a wooden fermentor using indigenous yeasts. Aged in 15-20 hL barrel on the lees for ten months.

"Vibrant and mineral, it's full of lemongrass, wax, seaweed and lemon candy with a peaty depth and hints of noble rot. The wine is concentrated, acidic at first then wrapped up in a woven structure, with a youthful, biting finish – a palate that defies time. Impressive price-to-quality-ratio. From 40-year-old vines on volcanic soil, this is a blend of slightly late-harvested Garganega, with Trebbiano intended to preserve the acidity. Both grapes are fermented in 30hl Allier oak vessels and aged for 12 months on the lees." - 94 Points, Decanter

"Vibrant and mineral, it's full of lemongrass, wax, seaweed and lemon candy with a peaty depth and hints of noble rot. The wine is concentrated, acidic at first then wrapped up in a woven structure, with a youthful, biting finish – a palate that defies time. Impressive price-to-quality-ratio. From 40-year-old vines on volcanic soil, this is a blend of slightly late-harvested Garganega, with Trebbiano intended to preserve the acidity. Both grapes are fermented in 30hl Allier oak vessels and aged for 12 months on the lees." - 94 Points, Vinous

Producer: Prà

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Varietal: Garganega, Trebbiano di Soave

Appellation: Soave Classico

Vintage: 2020

Size: 750ml