A knockout of a white from the Lugana appellation near Lake Garda in Lombardia. Made from rare Trebbiano di Lugana, known locally as Turbiana, this dry and complex white stole my heart at a recent vertical tasting. Straw color, under-ripe yellow fruit, almonds, citrus peel, lavender herbs and on and on, yet quite dry and easy to enjoy. Winemaker Alessandro Cutolo is a 4th generation winemaker in Lugana who revitalized vineyards to support a non-interventionalist approach to producing restrained and focused wines. He vinifies vineyards separately before blending and rests finished wine on the fine lees for a nuanced expression. Trebbiano di Lugana is genetically identical to Verdicchio from Le Marche and it really shows!
