04/06/2021
Hot out? Need your thirst quenched? Love white wine? Great, same.
We have worked with Filippi for some time now, first visiting Soave, Italy in 2018. Soave is not a region we associate with interesting, quality wines, rather commercial styles meant for the masses, but Filippi is different. The family has been farming the region since the 1300s, with wine a major focus for over 100 years. The rolling hills their vineyards lie on reach up to 400 meters above sea level, where some of the oldest vines of Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave can be found. These are wines of incredible concentration and depth, dripping with Terroir.
Certified organic, with biodynamic practices used since 2007, their land is subdivided into three different Soave crus: Castelcerino, Monteseroni and Vigne della Brà. Each single vineyard is characterized by very different soils which results in different mineral expressions in the finished wines. Castelcerino has terrain of volcanic origin and is rich in basaltic rocks, Monteseroni has limestone soils, and Vigne della Brà has a mix of basaltic rocks and limestone. Each individual cru is surrounded by dense woodland, which includes the oak and chestnut trees the vineyard posts are made of.
Grapes are hand harvested, fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for varying amounts of time, sometimes many years, on the lees before bottling. The winery works by gravity flow and the wines are made with a gentle touch and very low sulphites.
Castelcerino $28
100% Garganega planted on Basaltic soil. 6 months on lees. Hand harvested, fermented naturally in stainless steel. Fresh, salty and thirst quenching.
Vigna Della bra $37
100% Garganega planted on Basaltic, Volcanic soils and limestone. Richer than Castelcerino, with a long life of aging ahead of it.
Susinaro MAGNUM $63
100% Chardonnay planted on Basaltic soil. Hand harvested, fermented naturally in stainless steel. Is this the best value magnum out there? Maybe.
2012 Castelcerino 56 Mesi Sui Lieviti "Foglio 1" $50
100% Garganega planted on Basaltic soil. 56 months on lees brings richness, complexity and depth. An incredible wine.
Available at the shops tagged. Enjoy!