The wines of Pieropan, Soave, Italy

Leonildo Pieropan, Via Camuzzoni 3, 37038 Soave, Verona, Italy
Tel: +39 045 6190171 Fax: +39 045 619 0040
Website: www.pieropan.it
UK agent: Liberty Wines (020 7720 5350; info@libertywine.co.uk)

Soave in the Veneto is home to an awful lot of dull, neutral dry whites, but there are some real stars making some serious wines, of which the three leading names are probably Inama, Anselmi (review to follow) and Pieropan. Nino Pieropan and his wife Teresita have a commitment to terroir and tradition, and have worked hard with their research on different clones, safeguarding near extinct varieties. In the vineyard (they have 30 ha of vines overall) they practice short pruning, green harvesting and organic manuring in their quest for quality. The wines aren’t showy but display real class and concentration – they are whites that I really enjoy. The sweet wine, Le Colombare, is also compelling.

Pieropan Soave Classico 2002
90% Garganega and 10% Trebbiano di Soave, tank fermented. Quite a taut, dense herby nose with a refreshing grassy edge. Fresh with good concentration of herb tinged fruit on the palate. Clean and crisp. Very good+ 88/100

Pieropan La Rocca 2001 Soave Classico
The vineyard takes its name from the adjacent castle in the town of Soave. 100% Garganega, late harvested and aged in 500 litre oak barrels for a year. Complex, intense herby nose with a forward, lifted edge. Great concentration of herby, nutty fruit on the palate with a lemony character. Savoury, rich and impressive. Very good/excellent 92/100

Pieropan Le Colombare 2000 Recioto di Soave
This dessert wine is made from semi-dried Garganega grapes (they are dried on racks for five months), fermented and then aged in oak barrels for two years. Dense, aromatic herby nose with sweet vanilla and caramel edge. Lovely rich complexity on the palate, which is marmaladey and rich with herbiness and nice balance. Impressive. Very good/excellent 91/100

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