La Marca di San Michele 'Capovolto' Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC 2019

Siblings Alessandro and Beatrice Bonci are the dynamic duo behind the La Marca di San Michele estate in Cupramontana, the historical birthplace of verdicchio in Le Marche. Their vineyards are planted on the sloping foothills of the Apennine mountains facing east towards the Adriatic Sea, on what was a limestone seabed a mere 12 million years ago. The region’s vineyards may have been registered back in 1471, with winemaking well established by Camaldolite monks even before that (since 1186!), but the Bonci family’s thinking is leaps and bounds ahead of many other growers in the area. They farm their six hectares of verdicchio entirely organically and biodynamically, vinify with minimal sulfur, and bottle without filtration. “Capovolto” (“capo” = branch, “volto” = arch) refers to a style of winegrowing used by their grandparents’ generation, which increases surface area and helps the grapes yield even in hard times, and the cuvée is named to honor that older generation. This verdicchio is hand harvested and fermented with native yeast in stainless steel, then aged on fine lees also in stainless for 7 months followed by an additional 4 months of bottle aging. Generous aromas and flavors of orchard fruit, acacia, fresh cut herbs, and wet gravel are beautifully complemented by an electrifying lemon-lime backbone and delicate nutty, savory accents on the finish. Smooth and chiseled like polished marble, this may quickly become a favorite dinner partner! Organically grown, biodynamically grown, low-intervention/natural wine.