Santa Barbara Stefano Antonucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant but best to open it half an hour before service. Santa Barbara is a renowned winery in the Marche region, located in the province of Ancona and led by Stefano Antonucci, with the collaboration of Daniele Rotatori in the cellar and his brother Roberto. The company, which owns about 40 hectares of vineyards, produces high-quality wines from local and international vines. The Verdicchio grapes are harvested by hand from the classic sub-zone of the Castelli di Jesi territory, between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennines. The vines, which are between 25 and 40 years old, are planted on clay soils, on slopes up to 250 meters above sea level that benefit from exposure to the east and south-east. Fermentation occurs at a controlled temperature, in steel vats and the finished wine rests for 12 months on its lees in French oak barriques, and then for another 6 months in the bottle. The wine has an intense and brilliant color with deep yellow tones and golden reflections. On the nose, it reveals a fresh and lively bouquet with aromas of ripe yellow fruit and exotic fruit, citrus peel, and white flowers, with some delicate final hints of sweet spices. On the palate, it is round and soft, broad and balanced. It has a lively acidity and a marked mineral vein. The finish is long and elegant and recalls fruity notes. Try it with seafood risotto.