Emilia Romagna
Tenuta Casali Famoso '20
Italian wines have a huge place in the heart of wine lovers here in the United States. We of course love Italian food, we love to travel to Italy, and we love that there is always something new to discover about the country.
When it comes to new discoveries, wine is a perfect example. How many of you have had the grape Famoso? It was on my trip to Emilia-Romagna that I was introduced to this variety. I was able to taste a handful of examples and wanted to introduce you to my favorite.
Tenuta Casali is a small family winery located in Mercato Saraceno, in Romagna.
The Famoso grape variety was essentially extinct just over a decade ago, with only one vineyard in Mercato Saraceno that has a couple rows of the vines. Historically, Famoso shows up in records dating back to the 1400s. It's likely that phylloxera did it in, and the variety was rarely replanted afterward. Today, there are around 13 hectares of Famoso vines, with just 10 producers farming those vines.
Tenuta Casali owns a one-hectare plot of Famoso, vines that were grafted over in 2014. The vineyard has a southeast-facing exposition, with varied soils that contain clay, marl, and gravel. The vinification of Casali's Famoso is fairly straightforward, with a soft pressing, cold fermentation, and lees aging for six months. While I had some other examples of Famoso that had extended skin contact, as well as aging in oak, this example from Tenuta Casali shows Famoso in its purest form.
A wildly aromatic varietal, distinctly floral but with plenty of fruit, ranging from green apple to peach to green banana. Very fresh on the palate, it has body and weight to balance its vibrancy. While it's a delicious wine to drink on its own, it is also an ideal foil to a cheese and charcuterie plate.
When it comes to new discoveries, wine is a perfect example. How many of you have had the grape Famoso? It was on my trip to Emilia-Romagna that I was introduced to this variety. I was able to taste a handful of examples and wanted to introduce you to my favorite.
Tenuta Casali is a small family winery located in Mercato Saraceno, in Romagna.
The Famoso grape variety was essentially extinct just over a decade ago, with only one vineyard in Mercato Saraceno that has a couple rows of the vines. Historically, Famoso shows up in records dating back to the 1400s. It's likely that phylloxera did it in, and the variety was rarely replanted afterward. Today, there are around 13 hectares of Famoso vines, with just 10 producers farming those vines.
Tenuta Casali owns a one-hectare plot of Famoso, vines that were grafted over in 2014. The vineyard has a southeast-facing exposition, with varied soils that contain clay, marl, and gravel. The vinification of Casali's Famoso is fairly straightforward, with a soft pressing, cold fermentation, and lees aging for six months. While I had some other examples of Famoso that had extended skin contact, as well as aging in oak, this example from Tenuta Casali shows Famoso in its purest form.
A wildly aromatic varietal, distinctly floral but with plenty of fruit, ranging from green apple to peach to green banana. Very fresh on the palate, it has body and weight to balance its vibrancy. While it's a delicious wine to drink on its own, it is also an ideal foil to a cheese and charcuterie plate.
Perman
Italy
Details
| Producer | Tenuta Casali |