2024 Il Monticello - Colli di Luni DOC Vermentino Groppolo (750ml)

Il Monticello is a family-run estate straddling the border of Liguria and Tuscany, near Sarzana in the Colli di Luni DOC. The winery is run by brothers Alessandro and Davide Neri, who took over vineyards originally planted by their father, an engineer who founded the estate on land inherited in 1980. The Groppolo Vermentino comes from south-southwest-facing hillside vineyards at 100 to 120 meters above sea level, planted on soils of silty sand, clay, and limestone, and farmed organically with biodynamic principles in mind.

In the glass, this 100 percent Vermentino shows a bright, luminous straw-yellow color. The nose is aromatic and layered, opening with ripe citrus and giving way to notes of white flowers, Williams pear, thyme, and basil. Fermentation takes place at low, controlled temperatures in stainless steel, preserving the wine's freshness and aromatic lift, and a brief period on fine lees adds texture and roundness. On the palate, the wine is intense and enveloping, with a lovely interplay of acidity and freshness that carries through to a long, saline-tinged finish.

This coastal Ligurian white pairs naturally with seafood, pesto-based dishes, and white meats, and it makes an equally satisfying aperitivo on its own.