Guerrieri Rizzardi 2021 Soave DOP Classico

PRODUCER INFO

• Guerrieri-Rizzardi, the historic house in Veneto, dates back to the unification of two ancient estates in 1913, when Carlo Rizzardi from Valpolicella, married Guiseppina Guerrieri of Bardolino.
• The new winery is completely solar powered, combining the best that technology offers in a carbon neutral way with vineyards that have been in the family for centuries.
• With the energy of the new younger generation in the family, Guerrieri-Rizzardi has experienced a renaissance of sorts over the last twenty years and is known throughout Europe as one of the finest, most classical producers in the region, with wines built on tension and “cut.”

ABOUT THE WINE

• “Classico” designated Soave is a relatively rare thing to find nowadays, representing only 15% of the Soave region’s production – “Classico” designated wines are sourced from the (far superior) original hillside plots that were the zone’s standard prior to the massive/controversial expansion of the DOC in the 1970’s.
• Grapes are sourced from two “cru” vineyards – Costeggiola (limestone soil) and Rocca (volcanic soil).
• The Garganega here is picked when extremely ripe, while the Chardonnay is picked early to provide acidic balance.
• Fermented/aged in cement, lees aging provides extra texture.
• While some of Rizzardi’s peers in the top echelon of Soave Classico focus on aromatics, Rizzardi’s Soave has always been about palate detail and mineral character.

Vintage: 2021 | Wine Type: White Wine
Varietal: 70% Garganega, 30% Chardonnay
Origin: Italy | Appellation: Soave Classico DOP
Elaboration:  All grapes destemmed then follow alcoholic fermentation in cement vats for 10 days at between 15 to 16°C. No malolactic fermentation. Aged several months on lees in concrete and stainless steel tanks.
Winemaker: Giuseppe Rizzardi

TASTING NOTES

Brilliant straw color. This wine has aromas that combine floral notes with fine notes of fresh fruit. Dry and clean with a lively freshness. Ideal as an aperitif or with shellfish and crustaceans, soups, egg dishes, spaghetti with lobster or clams, grilled sardines, vegetable risotto, or fish pie. It also matches very well with sushi.

TECHNICAL DATA

Production: 20,000 bottles | Alcohol: 12.84% | TA: 5.04 g/l  | Residual Sugar: 1.9 g/l  | pH: 3.36

PRESS & POINTS

2021 – Bronze Medal, International Wine Challenge 2022
2020 – Due Bicchieri, Gambero Rosso 2021
2019 – 90 pts, BTI