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The Italy Wine Project

Regions / Marche

DOCGStill huntingModerate

Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG

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IL PROGETTODOCGCASTELLI DI JESI VERDICCHIO RISERVAAAIT32472140Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita

No strip issued. I'm still hunting a bottle.

This is the top tier of Jesi Verdicchio: the riserva bottlings that spend at least 18 months in cellar before release, usually from single vineyards on the best clay and limestone slopes. Expect lemon peel, bitter almond, chamomile, fennel and wet stone, with a waxy, almost oily texture held up by sharp acidity and a bitter almond twist on the finish. The best ones age 10 to 20 years and take on honey and hazelnut without losing freshness. Alongside Matelica riserva this is the strongest argument that Verdicchio is one of Italy's great white grapes.

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If you make Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva, import it, or know who does, the form takes two minutes and I reply to every one.

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Bottles I'm chasing

  • Villa Bucci

    Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva Classico

    Imported by Empson; aged in large old Slavonian oak, a serious white with almond, beeswax and a long saline finish that rewards a decade in bottle.

    $50 to $65Wine-Searcher

  • Garofoli

    Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva Classico Podium

    Widely distributed, stainless steel only, so you get the pure lemon, green almond and mineral side of riserva Verdicchio at a fair price.

    $25 to $32Wine-Searcher

  • Umani Ronchi

    Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva Classico Plenio

    Easy to find through Wine.com and Total Wine; part barrel fermented, richer and rounder with ripe pear and toasted almond.

    $28 to $35Wine-Searcher