'Unico' Casa Caterina 2012

“Unico” Casa Caterina is a wine of great territorial typicity, born in the wonderful area of Monticelli Brusati, among the most vocated in absolute terms of Franciacorta. It is the pure expression of the grape variety Invernenga, an ancient Brescia variety, once very widespread, which was used both as table grapes and for winemaking. Its name seems to derive from the custom of preserving the withered bunches for the winter. Over the centuries, Invernenga has been supplanted by more well-known and commercially rewarding varieties, and only in recent decades, with the renewed attention towards indigenous grape varieties, has it been rediscovered and valued by some small producers in the area.

The white “Unico” is a label created by one of the most original realities of the Franciacorta area. Casa Caterina has always followed the path of quality, through a vision of wine that is as natural as possible, from vineyard management to the practices of cellar. The Invernenga vineyards are located in the area of Provaglio d'Iseo and Persaga. The steep slopes are very draining and allow for perfect sunlight exposure, which promotes excellent ripening of the grapes. The vines are cultivated on calcareous-clay soils with the presence of silt and sands, which rest on a substrate of ancient alluvial deposits. At the end of the harvest, soft pressing of the bunches takes place, followed by spontaneous fermentation of the must with indigenous yeasts in cement tanks.

The “Unico” wine from Casa Caterina is a label of remarkable personality, which, thanks to a long aging process, presents good complexity and structure. It is ideal to pair with baked fish, white meats, or a platter of semi-aged cheeses. In the glass, it appears a bright light yellow color, with brilliant golden reflections. The olfactory profile is rich and multifaceted, with aromas of citrus, cedar peel, lime, notes of yellow-fleshed ripe fruit, hints of toasted almond and dried fruit, memories of fresh bread, of just-baked cookies, a delicate touch of white pepper, accompanied by a slight smoky sensation of flint. The taste is intense, broad, with mature and evolved aromas, crossed by a pleasant freshness, which leads to a savory and balsamic finish.