2019 Poggio alle Gazze

Seductive mix of pleasure and complexity - soft but powerful, gathers strength, does a great job of stretching outwards through the palate. The sharp Sauvignon Blanc character is tempered by the softer touch of vermentino and verdicchio, combining to give white flowers, straw, rosemary, honeysuckle, slate and spice. 25% new oak, blend at the end of ageing. No malolactic, 6 months ageing on lees then 12 months in bottle before release. Showcasing the skills of Axel Heinz once again, in the second label of Ornellaia Bianco.

Sauvignon Blanc is complemented with smaller parts Vermentino and Viognier to produce the 2019 Poggio alle Gazze dell'Ornellaia. This remains one of the great, fresh and easy-drinking whites of the Tuscan Coast, and historically, it has a leg up on most of the newcomer Vermentinos that are so popular now. Indeed, this was the precursor and a direct link to the gastronomy of its birthplace, which is so heavily driven by the catch of the day netted by local fisherman. Floral and exotic fruit tones rise from the pretty bouquet with shadings of green papaya and citrus. About one-half of the total sees some oak aging, and the rest goes into steel vat and cement. The wine is luminous and bright with lots of energy and freshness.

The 2019 Poggio alle Gazze is bright and beautifully sculpted in this vintage. Lemon peel, white flowers, apple and exotic floral notes are nicely delineated. This is an especially perfumed edition of Poggio alle Gazze. Lime, green apple and exotic floral notes lead into the super-expressive finish.