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Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
Estate and vineyard location: Castello Pomino, Pomino (Pomino Bianco Riserva DOC)
Benefizio Riserva is the embodiment of the history of Chardonnay in Tuscany, since this grape was introduced on this Tenuta in 1855. In 1878, Pomino was awarded the Gold Medal at the Paris Exposition for the high quality of its wines, in 1973, a vineyard at 700 metres’ elevation produced Benefizio, the first white wine in Italy be barrel-fermented, and in 2005 that wine became Benefizio Riserva.
TERROIR AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Altitude: From 680 m to 730 m (2230/2400 feet)
Vineyard size: 9 Ha
Exposure: Southwest
Soil: Sand-rich, rocky soils, well-drained, and rich in minerals; acidic to slightly acidic.
Planting density: Partly 2,800 and partly 5,000 vines per hectare
Traingin system: Guyot
Vineyard average age: More than 20 years
Wine Information
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Variety: Chardonnay
Alcohol by volume: 13,50%
Length of maceration on the skins: Partial, 12 hours at 5°C
Malolactic fermentation: Mainly done
Maturation method: 50% new French oak barrels and 50% once-used
Length of maturation: 10 months in oak and 4 months in the bottle
Tasting Notes: Benefizio 2016 is a soft golden wine that at first glance already demonstrates all the richness of this barrique-aged Chardonnay. The elegant woody notes that range from hazelnut to spicier aromas are perfectly balanced by the floral scents of acacia and lilac. This is a wine that is well-balanced by its sapidity and freshness and presents a significant bouquet of aromas to the palate that is further enhanced by the generous alcohol content and dried fruits finish.
Vintage Report: 2016 saw a very mild and extremely rainy winter at Castello Pomino. The early budding in the first week of April is surely related to the warmer than average spring temperatures. Summer wasn’t as hot and humid as 2015, and the veraison took place about ten days later than the previous year. The harvest, which began on September 30, resulted in sweet and healthy, bronze- golden Chardonnay grapes. The primary aromas kept perfectly thanks do the crisp climate, and when tasted the grapes were extremely lively to the palate, a sign of a sustained acidity and the predominant emerging element from a summer where temperatures never rose past 29°C. The 2016 harvest will be remembered for its perfect September that allowed the grapes to mature at a slow, natural pace and produce great white wines.
Vuosikerta 2016
2016 is an extraordinary vintage full of tremendous wines. Perhaps more importantly, average quality is exceptionally high. In short, it is hard to go wrong with Barolo in 2016. Is a classic, late-ripening year characterized by a leisurely October harvest and no real shock events to speak of. The year got off to a slow start. Only April saw temperatures above the ten-year average, while the first part of the year was also quite dry. July, August and September all saw above average temperatures, but without excessive heat. What I remember most about that summer was the unusually low humidity and incredible purity of the light, which combined to give spectacular views that are typically only seen in the winter. Well-timed rains in July and August helped keep things in balance. Most importantly of all, evening temperatures began to drop in September, creating the perfect conditions for a late harvest.
