Cantine Madonna delle Grazie "Leuconoe" Basilicata Bianco '24

In northwestern Basilicata, Cantine Madonna della Grazie is owned by the Latoracca family. They are in the historical Roman town Venosa, named after the Roman goddess Venus, and the winery’s name is derived from the historic church that abuts their home and cantina. Paolo is the family’s principal winemaker, and, like his brother Michele, has an enology degree. Their father, Giuseppe, still works in the vineyards. They plant and maintain the family’s historic vineyard collection planted exclusively to ancient massal selections (vine cuttings), and the estate is certified organic and biodynamic. Most of the Latoracca vineyards are in Venosa, one of fifteen communes of the DOC and DOCG areas of Aglianico del Vulture.
 
While the Latoraccas produces several red Aglianico del Vulture wines, they make the white wine “Leuconoe” from Aglianico as well. For this wine, they use the grapes that are harvested earliest, from a 1.5-hectare parcel in the Montalbo district, next to Montalbo mountain. This is a massal selection of grapes with bigger berries, which have more juice and less skin, ideal for this type of wine. The grapes are directly whole-cluster pressed with a pneumatic press. The juice is settled in tank for 24-48 hours, and fermentation is carried out with natural yeasts, which lasts about three weeks. The wine is then racked into another stainless steel tank for aging. There is no malolactic conversion.
 
The beautifully high-toned aromatics include notes of yellow plum and cherry, apricot, fresh herbs, and smoke. Dry on the palate, with high acidity, the wine shows a balance of fruity and savory flavors, with a refreshing finish.