2012 Kante, Malvasia IGT, Carso Venezia Giulia, Italy.
The Kante wines are some of the best in the northeast Italy, regularly on Gambero Rosso’s list for quality and unique terroir expressions of both still and sparkling wine, and a great new addition to Kermit Lynch’s import portfolio. Edi Kante along with Gravner pioneered ancient methods, though unlike Gravner has moved back away from orange and amphora raised wines in recent years and makes wines more conventional in style, but with purity of varietal and with a great sense of place. These wines from Carso are expressive and poised with elegant layers and highlights the limestone and clay soils, white are similar to the finest of Burgundy, giving glorious mineralize, this comes through especially well in the Malvasia from 20 year old vines. This pretty wine starts with steely mineral notes, tangerine and honeysuckle in this light to medium bodied white, it was fermented in neutral large oak casks and aged about 12 months before moved to stainless tanks, then aged a further 6 months then bottled, this makes for a round and fresh wine with a nice fleshy feel, but with nice acidity, showing a palate of lemon/lime, kiwi, melon and white peach fruits, leesy notes, river stones and saline. This is a vibrant and vivid example and delivers joyous flavor and energy, drink over the next 3 to 5 years, best from 2015 to 2019.
($35 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
