Ausonia Abruzzo Pecorino Machaon 2023

Simone and Francesca founded Ausonia in 2008 in Atri, in the province of Teramo, farming twelve hectares of biodynamic vineyards in the hills of Abruzzo. Pecorino is an old native grape that nearly disappeared before its revival, valued for its firm acidity and real body. It ripens with good sugar yet keeps its freshness, which gives the wine both weight and drive. The vineyards sit inland on clay and limestone soils, with the Adriatic on one side and the Gran Sasso mountains on the other, so warm days and cool nights hold the aromatics in place. The wine is aged on its lees, which broadens the palate and adds a savoury, textured depth in keeping with the biodynamic, low-intervention approach. The colour is straw-yellow with golden hints. The nose shows grapefruit, white peach and pear lifted by dried herbs and a saline note, and the palate is structured and textured, dry and long, closing firm and savoury. This is a serious, gastronomic white. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees.