“Muffato della Sala” Bianco Umbria IGT 2023 dolce

Castello della Sala | Antinori | Umbria
Marchesi Antinori S.p.A. | Piazza Antinori 3 | IT 50123 Firenze

10080423 · 0,5 l · 88,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping< 24 units available

When, in late October, the morning mists rise from the hills near Orvieto and settle like a silken veil over the vineyards of Castello della Sala, one of the most mysterious transformations in the world of wine begins. The grapes – Sauvignon Blanc, Grechetto, Traminer, Sémillon and Riesling – are afflicted by Botrytis cinerea, that noble rot which has been producing the world's finest sweet wines for centuries. The fungus penetrates the skin of the berries with invisible precision, drawing water from the flesh and concentrating sugars and aromas into an essence that no cellar technique could ever achieve. In several painstaking passes, the harvesters pick only those berries that have reached the ideal degree of botrytisation – a process that demands expertise and perfect timing, for the right moment is fleeting. After gentle pressing, the must ferments for 18 days at a controlled cool temperature of 17 degrees, before the still-sweet wine is transferred to French barriques. Here it matures for months, absorbing delicate woody nuances whilst the aromas and structure harmonise, before ageing in stainless steel completes the process.

Muffato glows with a radiant golden-yellow hue and reveals a beguiling aromatic complexity: ripe tropical fruits such as pineapple, mango and papaya mingle with dried apricots, candied cedar zest and yellow peach. Woven through these are chamomile blossoms, saffron threads and fresh ginger – a world of flavours that balances opulence with finesse. On the palate, a full-bodied sweetness unfolds, underpinned by lively acidity that lends the wine vigour and freshness. The final is long, harmonious and deep: honey, citrus marmalade, dried apricot and candied fruit linger like the final chord of a grand symphony. A wine in which every drop embodies the patience of nature and the artistry of the Antinoris – liquid gold from the mists of Umbria. SUPERIORE.DE

"Lightly sweet, with an expressive range of lychee, lime blossom, blood orange, passion fruit coulis, cardamom and anise notes, all buoyed by tangy acidity. Silky and balanced, with rich touches of graham cracker and vanilla on the finish." Wine Spectator