Malvasia
Bianca grapes from the Larner Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley
were hand harvested and field sorted about a week earlier
than those for the standard bottling of Malvasia Bianca, and
then carefully placed on traditional drying mats and imported
drying racks from Italy to dehydrate. This “passito”
style of winemaking retains the flavors and sugars of this
big, juicy grape and dries out the natural waters in the grape,
resulting in delicious raisins 120 days later.
These golden Malvasia Bianca raisins were
then moved to the winery in January of 2006, rehydrated with
a bit of dry Malvasia Bianca wine and then pressed and partially
fermented, in a traditional Vin Santo style of winemaking.
Approximately 50 gallons of this sweet,
new wine was placed into 60 gallon neutral French oak barrels,
allowing a headspace for the wine to age with slow oxidation
for almost two years. In the late summer of 2007, this saintly
wine was lightly filtered and bottled with a traditional wax
seal. Just 800 375ml bottles were produced.
An amber color reflects glints of burnished
gold, and although your aperitif glass may not allow a generous
swirl, there is an intense nutty, honeyed aroma rising from
the glass. A bouquet of orange blossom combines with a glycerin-like
coating of the glass to invite a first sip, which delights
in an “agrodulce” sensation – sweet and
tart at the same time. Orange peel, clove spice, dried apricots,
a hint of vanilla, a wisp of almonds and a bittersweet, satisfying
finish. Santita is a beautiful after-dinner wine
that is not too heavy, not too sweet and nicely balanced with
a light acidity to perfectly complement dessert dishes and
round out a great meal. Heavenly...
Click
here for full winemaking and tasting notes.
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