Le Coste "Ripazzo" Vino Rosso Biologico, Lazio, Italy NV

Le Coste “Ripazzo” Rosso Biologico is technically a mix of 2020 and 2021 grapes. The wine starts with the winery's skin-contact "Litrozzo Bianco" (Procanico, Malvasia, Roscetto, Verdello, Petino and Romanesco) which is then “ripassato” on the skins of the "Litrozzo Rosso" (Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Merlot).

The wine’s name is a play on words that mixes the “ripasso” technique with “pazzo” (crazy), pointing to the quirky character of this uniquely delicious wine.

This bottle has an energetic texture with so much going on. Fresh red berries, lavender, mouthwatering acidity and juiciness. The tannins of the red grapes with the drinkability of the white — something special and unique from this special and unique winemaking team.

At "Le Coste" Winery Gianmarco Antonuzzi and Clémentine Bouveron tend around 14 hectares of land, with vineyards amongst olive groves, chestnut trees, shrubs and oaks. Sat around Lago di Bolsena near Gianmarco’s childhood town of Gradoli in Lazio’s north, the soils are volcanic, rich in iron and minerals.

Vines are planted at a density of up to 10,000 plants per hectare, from a mix of massale selections and ungrafted vines. Everything is done by hand, with careful attention to the needs of each plant and while biodynamic principles are employed, the approach here goes above and beyond.

Each year, at Le Coste winery, they produce a dizzying number of different wines which are vinified in an ancient cellar in the village’s centre where nothing is added at any stage. To taste here is a real treat: Gianmarco is a master of élevage and his efforts result in some of the purest, most delicious wines we have tried. This is a fascinating project, where the passion and dedication of two people is single handedly putting one of Italy’s lesser known villages firmly on the map.