2014 Nardello Soave Classico Suavissimus DOC Half Bottle 375ml, Veneto

The 2014 Nardello Soave Classico Suavissimus is a beautiful and quietly powerful expression of Garganega from one of Soave’s most historic sites. It comes from Monte Foscarino, a cru in the heart of Soave Classico, where ancient volcanic basalt soils and steep slopes give wines remarkable mineral drive, depth and longevity. This is the kind of terroir that turns a humble variety into something profound.

The Nardello family has been farming these hills since the 1400s, making them one of the oldest wine families in Italy. Their vines are old, low yielding and deeply rooted in the black volcanic soils, and their winemaking is traditional and patient, focused on allowing the vineyard and vintage to speak. Suavissimus is their most important wine, made only in the best years and aged for extended periods before release.

In the glass, the 2014 shows layers of ripe pear, quince and baked apple, with notes of almond, honey, dried herbs and a distinctive smoky mineral edge from the volcanic soils. The palate is rich yet precise, with a waxy, almost oily texture balanced by bright acidity and a long, savoury, saline finish. It feels more like a great white Burgundy or aged Riesling than a simple Soave.

This is a stunning food wine. Roast chicken, pork, rich seafood dishes, mushrooms, aged cheeses or even dishes with truffle all pair beautifully with its depth and texture.

The 2014 Nardello Suavissimus is drinking beautifully now, but it still has a long life ahead. Expect it to continue evolving for another ten to twenty years, gaining more nutty, honeyed and savoury complexity. It is one of Italy’s great white wines and a reminder of just how extraordinary Soave can be in the right hands.