Puglia, Italy
Puglia Bianco IGP
Valentina is nothing short of a superstar in the natural wine world and the Progetto Calcarius line spans many styles and is adored for their accessibility and honesty. She works in Gargano, an area in the north of Puglia, along the Adriatic Sea, surrounded by the Gargano National Park. Work at the winery has been conducted with biodynamic and organic practices since 2000 and with low-intervention techniques and natural winemaking too. The terroir is made up of Kimmeridgian limestone soils from the Jurassic era (similar to Chablis) which gives a certain minerality to the wines produced, a core element of her wines. On the label, the element Calcium is represented along with its atomic number (20) and atomic weight (40.08) as a nod to the calcareous soils that her 80ha of vineyards sit atop.
In Puglia, a wide variety of indigenous grapes are planted and used in the production of wine. The Hellen Orange is 100% Greco, an Italian varietal possibly of Greek origin. The wine is macerated on its skins for 15 days with spontaneous fermentation occurring and 6 months of aging in stainless steel tanks, on lees. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Highly aromatic with notes of ripe apricot, quince, blooming flowers, tremendous minerality and a hint of soy sauce lingering in the background. The body is light but textured with vivacious acidity and a crunchy quality to the fruit component. The minerality is pronounced and refreshing, with a lingering effect on a fairly long finish. Really complex but super super easy to drink.