Botromagno

Gravisano Passito di Malvasia IGP Murgia 2006

Wine Description

Sweet passito wines play an important role in the history of the Gravina region of Apulia. Traditionally, these were made from ancient Gravisano grapes leftover from the regular harvest that were dried on the vines. Not wanting to waste anything, the farmers used these leftovers to make a limited batch of sweet ambrosia which could be offered to valued guests during festivals throughout the year. Gravisano grapes have long since become extinct, but the legend lives on in the name of this wine. Today, Gravisano is made from Malvasia grapes that are sun-dried on racks for 30-40 days, resulting in a wonderful and balanced dessert wine.

Tasting Notes

Rich amber in color with seductive aromas of orange zest, candied apricots, caramel, toffee and toasted almonds. Sweet on the palate but perfectly balanced by its zesty acidity, this wine offers lovely complexity of flavors and a long, luscious finish. Pair with hard cheeses, marzipan or honeyed desserts, almond cakes or cookies.

Vineyard Characteristics

Production area/name of vineyard: Gravina zone/The Trono degli Avuzzi vineyard
Size of vineyard (acres): 25
Soil composition: Calcareous clay
Training method: Spur-pruned Cordon
Elevation (feet): 990-1,485
Vines/acre: 1,800
Yield/acre (tons): 0.7
Exposure: Northern/Southern
Year vineyard planted: 1978-1983/1990s
Agronomist/Vineyard manager: Stefano Dini

Winemaking & Aging

Varietal composition: 100% Malvasia Lunga
Harvest time: October
Winemaking consultant: Alberto Antonini and Goffredo D'Agostino
First vintage of this wine: 1992
Number bottles produced of this wine: 5,000
Fermentation
Fermentation container: New Barriques
Length of alcoholic fermentation (days): 30
Fermentation temperature (°F): 61
Malolactic fermentation: No
Aging
Aging container: Barriques and stainless steel tanks
Size of aging container: 225 L and 50 HL
Age of aging container: New
Cooperage: French oak: Allier
Length of aging before bottling: 3 years (2 in barriques; 1 in stainless steel)
Length of bottle aging: 1 year
Analytical Data
Alcohol: 15.0%
pH level: 3.7
Residual sugar (grams/liter): 140
Acidity (grams/liter): 6.8
Dry extract (grams/liter): 36.6

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