Carminucci Belato Offida Pecorino 2024

Carminucci "Belato" Offida Pecorino, Offida DOCG, Marche, Italy, 2024

Grape: 100% Pecorino, unoaked

Producer Tasting Note:

A fresh and richly flavoured wine with lifted notes of green apple and pineapple enveloping a crisp, dry palate with mineral tones and a tangy, zesty finish.

Vineyard: Pecorino is a long-forgotten grape variety, which is making a come-back. By the mid 20th century, Pecorino was thought to be extinct, however it was rediscovered and since the 1990s plantings have grown considerably. It is an early-ripening, thin skinned grape, native to Central Italy, where it produces fresh, crisp mineral-driven wines with floral notes. It produces high levels of natural sugars balanced by naturally high acidity. Pecorino thrives at altitude and the grapes for this wine come from a vineyard located in the DOCG Offida Pecorino, at 250 - 300 metres above sea-level with good exposure to sunlight and cooling breezes. The soil is rich in minerals and clay, which combined with the sloping topography, is crucial for draining away excess soil moisture. A Mediterranean climate is found throughout the region, with average annual rainfall of 800mm, mainly falling during the winter months, which builds water reserves in the soils, to nourish the vines throughout the typically hot and dry summers. The vineyards are cultivated organically; herbicides and pesticides are not used. The grapes are manually harvested.

Winemaking: The grapes underwent 12 hours of maceration to extract the desired level of aromas and flavours. Following a gentle pressing, the must was clarified via cold static decanting and fermented at controlled temperatures in stainless steel. Ageing took place in stainless steel for three months allow the purity of fruit and the Marche terroir to be fully expressed.

Estate: Established by Giovanni Carminucci in 1928, the Carminucci estate is now run by the founder's son, Piero, who produces high quality wines from organically farmed grapes. The 45ha of vines are grown between the municipalities of Offida and Grottammare and within famous, historic DOC territories of Rosso Piceno, Rosso Piceno Superiore, Falerio, Passerina and Pecorino DOCG. Yields are kept intentionally low, which combined with a modern approach in the winery, results in a sought-after collection of wines that truly reflect the grape and the terroir. The wines are highly acclaimed in Italy, winning multiple Italian awards and offer outstanding value for money.

Food Match: Grilled fish, seafood pasta (spaghetti with mussels), fried calamari, octopus marinated in lemon juice, Olive all'Ascolana (olives stuffed with minced meat), sheep's cheese, linguine with pesto, vegetable risotto, gnocchi with sage and butter