2021 Umani Ronchi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Casal di Serra Riserva Plenio

This story began more than half a century ago in Cupramontana, in the heart of Verdicchio Classico. Today the Umani Ronchi wine estate is owned by the Bianchi-Bernetti family. Three wine zones - Castelli di Jesi, Conero and Abruzzo - and countless vineyards are spread across 10 districts. A total of 210 hectares have been planted with Verdicchio and Montepulciano, which are best expressed in Marche and Abruzzo. The 185 km of vines are nestled between the hills and the Adriatic coast, each with its unique characteristics and terroir. Umani Ronchi has doubled his estate and replanted 85% of his old vines since the 1970s. They have invested in Verdicchio and Rosso Conero and restored the Pecorino and Lacrima di Morro d'Alba varieties. Their vineyards are also all farmed organically. This is a technical decision rather than an ideological consideration. The vines flourish in such a way that there is room for viticulture that gets the best out of the grapes without sacrificing the quality of the wines.

The Umani Ronchi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Riserva Plenio is a beauty of a white wine and one of the top models of Umani Ronchi. This white wine is a 100% Verdicchio - the authentic but incredibly scarce typical Marken grape. The vines are planted on a soil of clay and loam located on a plateau at an altitude of 350 meters with an eastern exposure. The vineyards are around 30 years old. The picking in October is completely manual. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks (70%) and wooden barrels of 5000 liters. Approx. 15% of the wine then undergoes a malolactic fermentation to create a wonderfully fresh Verddichio. The wine matures for no less than 18 months "sur lie" and is complemented by 6 months of bottle aging.

The Plenio Riserva Verdicchio is a refreshing wine but with intense aromas of herbs, almonds, anise, vanilla and ripe fruit in the nose. The attack is refreshing, soft and extremely pleasant. The aftertaste is intense, velvety soft and creamy with aromas of apples and almonds. The long, dry but elegant finish is precisely the balance that gives this wine a beautiful aging potential. The Umani Ronchi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Riserva Plenio is an excellent accompaniment to Spaghetti Vongole, roasted white meat and grilled or fried fish dishes.

Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva

Previously, the Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva was part of the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC. However, in 2010 it became a DOCG and in 2011 the name changed to Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG. Like the unaged white wine Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC, this wine is made from the Verdicchio grape (85-100%) with the permitted addition of other local green grapes (0-15%). The grapes are grown in an area that extends slightly west of Ancona, along the Esimo River, to the Musone River. Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG is now considered one of Italy's best white wines. The minimum mandatory ripening period for Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG is 18 months, starting after December 1 of harvest. At least 6 months of refining in the bottle is mandatory before placing on the market.