2022 Massican, Gemina, White Wine, California.
The latest Massican wine lineup, by winemaker Dan Petroski, includes some really interesting stuff, with his Annia Friuli style white being a stand out, which I reviewed earlier, and this Gemina which is made from Southern Italian varietals Greco di Tufo and Falanghina that is unique California beauty. Petroski explains that Gemina is the name of an ancient Roman grape planted in the region around the Massican hills of southern Italy, hence the name he chose for the winery and this wine. The Greco grape, who’s history it is believed originates in ancient Greece, and which according to Dan, dates back to the first century when it was first called Aminea Gemina. The 2022 Gemina and is a mouth watering crisp wine, showing tart apple, bright lemon zest, white peach and Summer melon, with mineral tones, fresh salinity, some bitter almond, clove, wet stones and verbena notes adding complexity. Petrosky says his Gemina has a familial character to the wines in the south of Italy and shows his passion for the fresh white wines of the Mediterranean, like those of some of my favorites such as Marisa Cuomo on the Amalfi Coast, and or legends Mastroberardino and Feudi di San Gregorio.
Dan Petroski, who is the winemaker at Napa’s historic Larkmead Winery, is also well known for his own Massican label, which focuses on the bright style of Mediterranean white wines and Italian varietals, using an intriguing selection of grapes like Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Pinot Grigio, Falanghina and Greco di Trufo, along with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, as seen in this Annia. His work has many fans, especially Gallo, who have invested in a big way here to build the Massican Winery into a leader in producing a new future of California, in particular Napa Valley, white wines. This will allow Petroski to focus on what he does best, make wine and give him a solid base from which to succeed with his plans to create a consistent elevated set of wines, as well as help secure top vineyard sites to up the quality. The pale gold and lightly spicy 2022 Gemina was made from Greco di Tufo 62% and Falanghina 38%, sourced from from organically farmed vineyards in Dunnigan in Yolo County, Russian River, and Lodi, with ripe grapes, but modest sugars. Fermented separately, mainly in stainless steel and a short lees aging, it retained plenty of acidity and came in at just about 12% natural alcohol, allowing for a very nicely balanced wine that goes great with lighter cuisine and especially sea foods.
($35 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive