The wines of Elisabetta Foradori, Trentino, Italy

Elisabetta Foradori
Fabulous natural wines from Italy's Trentino

Website: http://www.elisabettaforadori.com/

At the age of just 20 Elisabetta Foradori (above) found herself in charge of the family winery, based in the foothills of the Dolomite Mountains in Trentino, way back in 1984. It’s been quite a journey for her, and over time she has moved in a more natural direction, looking to get the ultimate expression of the place and the main variety here, Teroldego.

In pursuit of this expression, she converted to biodynamics in 2002, and was certfied in 2009.

There are 28 hectares of vines here, with three-quarters of this Teroldego (they did a mass selection and so now have 15 different clones, plus grew some from seeds), plus Manzoni Bianco (a cross of Pinot Blanc and Riesling), Nosiola and Pinot Grigio, with production around 150 000 bottles a year.

These vineyards are surrounded by mountains, and there are two main soil types: calcareous clay and alluvial. While many in the region grow on a high-yielding pergola system, most of her vines are vertically trellised.

Since 2012, Emilio, one of her four children, has worked with her, and she has gradually taken a more natural direction. Part of this direction is a move towards using clay. Elevage is in a mix of large wood (oak and acacia), and increasingly these clay amphorae (tinajas from Spain, which are unlined).

UK agent: Les Caves de Pyrene

THE WINES

Foradori Fontanasanta Manzoni Bianco 2014 Trentino, Italy
Aged in oak casks. Taut, textured pear and nut on the palate. Detailed with some grapiness and lovely fruit purity. 91/100

Foradori Fontanasanta Nosiola Vigneti Delle Dolomiti 2014 Trentino, Italy
Fermented and matured in amphorae. Lovely open apple and pear fruit with a slight lift. Detailed and spicy. Textural with nice citrussy bite. 93/100

Foradori Fuoripista 2014 Trentino, Italy
Pinot Grigio in amphorae. So pretty and textural with pear, grapes and apple fruit. Very textural with a real beauty to it and fine spicy notes. 94/100

Foradori Sgarzon Vigneti Delle Dolomiti Rosso 2014 Trentino, Italy
Amphora. Lifted, fresh and floral with a really nice grippy detailed palate, showing raspberries and cherries. Quite structural and drying a bit on the finish. 92/100

Foradori Teroldego Morei 2014 Trentino, Italy
Amohora. Very fresh, pure and linear with pure red cherry fruit and lovely fine-grained structure. Elegant, direct and pure. 94/100

Foradori Teroldego Rotaliano 2013 Trentino, Italy
Supple with nice sweet cherry, plum and raspberry fruit. Direct and a bit grippy. Stony, with nice freshness. 93/100

Foradori Teroldego Rotaliano 2014 Trentino, Italy
Fresh and pure with vivid raspberry and cherry fruit. Linear with nice grip. Stony and bright. 93/100

Foradori Granato Vigneti delle Dolomito Rosso 2013 Trentino, Italy
Grippy and focused with nice depth to the raspberry and cherry fruit. Has real concentration with a nice grainy edge. Lovely weight with some fine spices. 93/100