2014 Soave Classico Superiore La Rocca

Always made from 100% Garganega and is always fermented in 500-litre oak barrels because Pieropan feels that Garganega is too delicate for fermentation in barrique. 60% of the wine then remains in 500-litre oak casks and 40% aged in 2,000 litre ‘Botti’ or large barrels for one year. Only a little more golden than the 2018, but much more buttery and baked-peaches-in-cream, crème brûlée, on both the nose and palate. Roasted oats and late-summer honey. Heady lily florals. But so, so richly, seductively peachy. Intense, vivid wine with a glorious furl of life. There is a very delicate, almost transparent, herbal top note – perhaps sage, perhaps lovage, even a little ferny. And then, the alpine-stream wet roll of shiny pebbles. Still has several years ahead of it. (TC)