La Mursa 'Ventigghjatu' Costa Toscana Alicante IGT 2022

'Ventigghjatu' Costa Toscana Alicante IGT 2022
La Mursa

*$84.99 on 3+ bottles
$89.99 on bottle 1
*mix & match ok

*This wine would be priced over $100 at most other shops!

100% Alicante (aka Italian Grenache)

ABV: 14%

Terroir and soils: volcanic soils, the island has a rugged and rocky territory characterized purely by Mediterranean scrub - think Provence meets Corsica/Sardinia.  Mostly old vines from a cos within the estate vineyards.

Vineyards: The planting space used is 1x1m quincunx with a planting density of 10,000 plants per hectare . This choice was adopted to make the most of the small and arduous terraces, in which all work is carried out manually

Winemaking: Not much is available so I messaged La Mursa in Instagram and got a lot of GREAT details, here is the English translation:

• 'Ventigghjatu' is produced with pure Grenache grapes. Fermentation takes place in 10hl Mastelle for about 20 days, using 20%-30% whole bunches this is crushed with feet so as to make pressing more delicate. After racking, the wine is placed in used French oak barrels and aged for 6-7 months, after which it ages for 6 months in the bottle. We hope we have answered all your questions, we remain at your disposal"

• This allows us to carry out micro-harvests between the various terraces that have different altitudes and exposures, so as to respect the right ripening of the grapes.

• After racking, the wine is placed in used French oak barrels and aged for about 7 months, after which it ages in the bottle.

Our Tasting Note - 1/26/2024
Compared to 'la Sulana', the old vines here really make a difference.  The volcanic soils also come through more, with a more pronounced minerality of ash and stone. The wine has more of everything, including complexity and capacity to age as the layers are denser and a little tighter but still maintains the same energy, elegance, and poise. A deeper red core, darker red, ruby edges. A med+ persistent nose is more streamlined, more layered, but also very pure with fresh and ripe bing cherry and black raspberry, some blackberry too, the spices here lean a lot more savory and the stone and ash minerality add to the complexity. The palate is med+ leaning into pronounced intensity as the wine is just more concentrated, with denser layers, but still maintains a lot of elegance, very persistent. A long, gently persistent finish does not give up easily, clocking in well over a minute but never shouts. It fades out ever so gently...outstanding!