Latest vintages from Pieropan: Soave Classico, Calvarino & La Rocca
Our offer of Pieropan's single-vineyard Soave's last year was a great success and we have just managed to source allocations of the current 2019 releases, both scoring 94 points from James Suckling, alongside the benchmark 2020 Soave Classico.
These mineral, saline wines from the volcanic soils on the hills around the medieval town of Soave are a world away from generic Soave, made on the flat plains, where the soil is overly fertile, leading to high yields and dilute wines. The Soave Classico DOC is a more reliable indicator of quality than many classifications and within this area, Pieropan is a pioneer, with the 2020 Classico being a brilliant benchmark for the region.
The Calvarino (or 'Little Calvary' vineyard produces wines with richness and roundness, but still manages to retain tension, with the wines aged on their lees for 12 months in concrete vats. Wines from the Rocca vineyard (pictured, at the foot of La Rocca Castle) possess a pronounced minerality and spend a similar time on lees, but in larger, old oak barrels.
Both single vineyard wines - particularly La Rocca - will age for up to a decade, acquiring a honeyed complexity, but we think they show best around two years after the vintage, making them perfect to enjoy this autumn.
Producer Profile
Pieropan, Soave
The Pieropan family have been producing wines in Soave since the 1890s and were the first to bottle wine under this name. In the 1970s, Leonildo Pieropan tasked himself with what seemed an unlikely challenge at the time, to make one of Italy's finest white wines using a local grape variety, the native Garganega, rather than using 'noble' varieties like Chardonnay or Sauvignon. He purchased the 'Calvarino' ('Little Calvary') vineyard in 1971, the name reflecting the steep, rocky volcanic soils, at 200-300m elevation. Extremely hard to work, they also produce wonderful, age-worthy wines. The limestone-rich La Rocca vineyard followed, dramatically set at the foot of the medieval La Rocca castle which dominates the town.
Today, the estate is run by Leonildo's sons, Andrea and Dario. Calvarino is aged on its lees for 12 months in concrete vats, whereas La Rocca spends a similar time on lees in larger old oak barrels. Calvarino has richness and roundness but still manages to retain a tension about it, whereas La Rocca is all about focused minerality. Both wines - particularly La Rocca - will age for around a decade, acquiring a honeyed complexity. The Soave Classico is a benchmark for the region.
The short film below has some beautiful shots of vineyards and La Rocca castle (although the drone footage is a bit terrifying!):
| WHITE | 2022 | 2 cases | Pieropan - Soave 'Calvarino' | 75cl | £105 per case of 6 | Pieropan Soave 'Calvarino' 2022 / 2 cases / 75cl £105 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesThe Calvarino vineyard is in the northwest zone of the Soave Classico area and has been owned by the Pieropan family since 1901. It takes its name, 'little Calvary,' from the steep slope and the difficulty this presents in working the vineyard. Planted with Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave, its basalt soil is typical in this part of Soave. The vines are organically farmed, aged between 30 and 60 years and planted 200 to 300 metres above sea level at a density of 3,000 vines per hectare.------"The first single-vineyard created here, in the late 18th century. More black soil than in the Soave Classico. This is very good, meshing the inherent ripeness of the vintage with a mineral-infused pungency. Green apples, quince and stone fruit. Yet the feel is linear, cool and taut, with a growing trajectory of fruit sweetness across the long, energetic finish. A pithy exclamation to close. 94 points." James Suckling, May 2023, JamesSuckling.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | 2 cases | Pieropan - Soave 'La Rocca' | 75cl | £140 per case of 6 | Pieropan Soave 'La Rocca' 2022 / 2 cases / 75cl £140 per case of 6 |
IB | ||||
Tasting NotesThe southwest-facing vineyard of ‘La Rocca’ takes its name from the adjacent medieval castle and fortress (‘La Rocca’) and is planted at 200-300 metres above sea level. The soils here are unique in Soave, comprising a limestone outcrop (the same soil as in Valpolicella Classico). Pieropan feels that these soils are perfect for ripening Garganega and, as a result, make ‘La Rocca’ exclusively from this variety. First released in 1978, ‘La Rocca’ was the first example of single vineyard Soave, and it has become a definitive symbol of quality and tradition in the region. Vines are spur pruned and cordon trained and 50 years old.------"The only oak-inflected cuvee at the estate. Aged in 100% used tonneaux, both French and Slavonian. Superb aromas of pistachios, peaches and dried mangoes. Broad and expansive, yet funneled into a vortex of tension by freshness that sublimates any sense of obvious power. A wonderful expression of a warmer vintage that suits perfectly this compelling site. 96 points." James Suckling, May 2023, JamesSuckling.com |
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