Tasting Notes
Pico is La Biancara's finest white: 100% Garganega from the highest-altitude vineyards on the Gambellara hills, selected from the estate's best parcels on volcanic soils between 150 and 300 metres. Angiolino Maule himself draws the distinction clearly: where Sassaia comes from parcels around the winery, Pico is from the higher elevations, and the extra altitude brings an additional mineral tension and aromatic complexity. The Garganega grapes are carefully selected, then fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel with 2 to 5 days of skin contact depending on the vintage — long enough to give the wine its distinctive amber-golden colour and textural depth, short enough to preserve the variety's pure fruit expression and the volcanic terroir character. After fermentation the wine ages for 12 months in large old 15-hectolitre oak barrels. Bottled without filtration, no added sulphites. All four vintages available (2016, 2017, 2020, 2021); the 2016 and 2017 are deeply evolved and contemplative, the 2020 and 2021 more vibrant. Burnished copper-golden in the glass; chestnut honey, pickled apricot, smoked quince, Mediterranean herbs, volcanic mineral and a persistent saline depth. On the palate it is full, mineral and long with a fine tannic texture. Good with porcini risotto, sushi, tuna tartare, aged cheeses and as a serious Veneto white of real depth.
Details:
- Grape variety: Garganega (100%), selected from highest-altitude parcels at 150–300m on volcanic soils, Gambellara, Vicenza; 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021 vintages available
- Vinification: Spontaneous fermentation in steel; 2–5 days skin contact (vintage-dependent); indigenous yeasts; no filtration; no added sulphites; organic/biodynamic
- Aging: 12 months in large old 15-hectolitre oak barrels
- Organoleptic description: Burnished copper-gold; chestnut honey, pickled apricot, smoked quince, herbs, volcanic mineral, saline; full, mineral and long palate, fine tannic texture
- Food pairing: Porcini risotto, sushi, tuna tartare, aged cheeses, serious contemplative glass
