Medium gold color; yellow apple, lemon, pear, melon, tropical fruits, bread toast, honey, spice, oak, vanilla on the nose and palate.
Dry; no tannins, crisp acidity. Smooth, creamy, delightfully rich. Medium body. Harmonious, elegant with impressive complexity and depth. Trebbiano d’Abruzzo is the white grape counterpart to Montepulciano d’Abruzzo in Abruzzo in the region of central Italy, east of Rome. Trebbiano d’Abruzzo is the only DOC in Abruzzo specializing exclusively in white wine. According to DOC rules, the wine must be made from at least 85 percent of Trebbiano d’Abruzzo (also known as Trebbiano Abbruzzese) and/or Trebbiano Toscano. They are similar but distinct varieties. This wine is 100% Trebbiano d’Abruzzo. The vineyards are farmed sustainably. 14% ABV
Produced since 1991, the grapes for this effort underwent cryomaceration for 12 hours. Cold maceration with white grapes encourages contact between grape skins and juice to extract the greatest amount of aromas and their precursors. Fermentation in French barriques follows. Aged on the lees with frequent bâtonnage, followed by bottle aging.
The 2018 vintage presented some challenges. The tech sheet notes: “The winter was quite regular and spring began with very favorable temperatures leading to excellent budding. Shortly after, abundant rains carried through until mi-July, requiring phytopathological intervention. The later half of summer and fall brought dry and windy weather and lots of sunshine, allowing harvest to begin according to schedule.”
Masciarelli Tenute Agricole was founded in 1981 by Gianni Masciarelli, a promoter of modern wine production in Abruzzo, with a then unusual focus on vineyard sites and management that reduced yields, worked sustainably, and increased fruit quality. Masciarelli is the largest organically farmed estate in Italy.
The center of the operation is the winery in San Martino sulla Marrucino in the province of Chieti. Today, the estate has grown to nearly 900 acres, though split into over 60 parcels that do not adjoin one another. The Masciarelli approach was to buy only top vineyards, regardless of location in Abruzzo. Today Masciarelli is the only producer in Abruzzo to own land in all four provinces of Abruzzo (Chieti, Pescara, Teramo and l’Aquila). Their production of wines is 100% estate. There also is a Masciarelli-restored castle, Castello di Semivicoli, which serves as hotel, restaurant, and houses various elements of the winery.
Gianni died in 2008, but his wife Marina Cvetic continued the operation as owner, winemaker, and operations manager. Today, their daughter Miriam Lee Masciarelli is taking over management of the business. The winery has 18 labels and five product lines: Classic Line, Gianni Masciarelli, Villa Gemma, Marina Cvetic (this effort), and Castello di Semivicoli with an annual production of more than 2.5 million bottles.
Masciarelli Marina Cvetic Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Riserva DOC 2018 presents with rampant, rich, concentrated, delicious fruit. Apple, lemon, pear, tropical fruits delivers a palate-pleasuring parade in the mouth. Creamy mouthfeel. An exceedingly nice experience. Pair with fish; shellfish; spaghetti with seafood; pasta dishes, especially cheesy ones; four-cheese pizza; roast chicken; pork. Cheese—aged Italian cheeses; pecorino; fontina; parmigiano reggiano; taleggio. $38-45
