About this wine
Grapes
A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Nero.
Vinification
For the 2022 vintage, the grapes were picked by hand into 15 kg crates during the coolest part of the day. Slow, gentle pressing extracted the central fraction of the juice. The must then underwent 12 hours of cold clarification. Fermentation proceeded at a constant, controlled temperature in stainless-steel tanks, while a portion fermented in wood. The separate Chardonnay and Pinot Nero cuvées were blended before tirage and secondary fermentation in bottle.
Ageing
The wine matured for an extended period on its lees. Riddling moved the fine-yeast sediment into the bottle neck before disgorgement, after which the wine received further bottle ageing.
Tasting profile
The 2022 is intense straw yellow, with an exceptionally fine, persistent perlage. Citrus and white flowers lead the complex bouquet, followed by tertiary nuances from the wood-fermented component and the pastry and bread-crust aromas associated with prolonged lees ageing. The palate is fresh and savoury, with close correspondence between aroma and flavour and a long finish.
Vintage notes
Early flowering followed unusually warm, summer-like conditions at the end of May. The long 2022 summer accelerated shoot growth and fruit set at first, producing notable uniformity across the vineyards. In July, vine growth slowed in response to the heat. Rain around Ferragosto in mid-August contributed to clear, fragrant musts.
Label / history
Leonia takes its identity from Leonia Frescobaldi, who planted French varieties at Pomino and vinified them in Italy’s first gravity-fed cellar. Her work received a gold medal at the 1878 Paris Exposition.
