Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The selected fruit came from vines averaging 50–80 years old on a recently acquired site in the municipality of Milo. The vineyard lies at 850 m above sea level on volcanic and sandy soils. Its aspect and microclimate are particularly suited to white-wine production.
Grapes
The wine was made from a selected portion of the 2017 Carricante harvest, vinified separately because of its exceptional quality.
Vinification
The grapes fermented in large French oak barrels and underwent malolactic fermentation. The fruit was sufficiently healthy for vinification without sulfur dioxide, a first for Tenuta delle Terre Nere.
Ageing
The wine matured for 10–12 months in 900 L tonneaux, followed by six months in bottle.
Tasting profile
Creamy, with a subtle touch of wood.
Vintage notes
Conditions remained mild through the end of December before temperatures fell markedly with the arrival of snow in early January. Temperatures stayed steady through January and most of February, with morning frosts near or below freezing. March brought an ideal amount of rain.
Temperatures rose rapidly during the first two weeks of April and then dropped sharply. Frost on 20 April caused severe damage to young vines, with losses among young plants reaching 70–80%. Shoot growth slowed, leaving development about one week behind schedule by early May.
Temperatures reached 30 °C in the first half of May, allowing the vines to recover the delay. The cooler second half of the month brought a small amount of rain that helped young vineyards planted during the winter. May ended with stable weather, average daytime temperatures and fairly cool nights.
The first half of June was unsettled, with heavy rain. Initially low temperatures then climbed abruptly to almost 40 °C, placing very young plants under considerable stress and requiring hand irrigation. Temperatures continued to reach 40 °C throughout July and August.
Temperatures gradually returned to seasonal averages in September, when rain partly relieved the water shortage caused by the prolonged drought. Ripening was early. Moderate temperatures and low humidity in October contributed to exceptionally healthy, high-quality fruit.
Label / history
The cuvée was produced in very limited quantities after Marco de Grazia chose to vinify part of the 2017 harvest separately. “Una Tantum,” meaning “the only one,” reflects the intention that it may remain a unique, one-off project.
