2020 La Stoppa Ageno [V93]

Producer: La Stoppa  
Region: Emilia-Romagna, Italy  
Blend: 90% Malvasia di Candia, 10% Ortrugo & Trebbiano Toscano 
Year: 2020 

Vinous, 93 Points 

"The 2018 Ageno is a deep orange hue in the glass. It displays mesmerizing bouquet that blends tropical melon and peach with a dusting of gingery spice, flower petals and freshly sliced vanilla bean. It washes across the palate with textural richness yet quickly gains in both tension and verve, as a sweet and sour interplay of ripe kiwi meets tart blood orange. A touch of fresh mint adds a lovely lift toward the close. The 2018 leaves the palate classically dry yet not tired. The cheeks pucker, and honeyed inner florals slowly fade. Ageno is a beguiling mix of 90% Malvasia di Candia Aromatica and 10% Ortrugo and Trebbiano, which macerates for four months on the skins and is then refined in forty-hectoliter wooden vats. Fans of skin-contact wine should take notes because this is not to be missed. The 2018 is the current release, as La Stoppa released the 2019 prior due to its forward-drinking nature." 

Winemaker Notes: 

"The varieties are co-planted and the vines average 30 years of age. The fruit is harvested by hand, destemmed and fermented with native yeasts and no sulfur in tank. Maceration generally last at least 4 months--in the case of 2018, it was 6 months. Malolactic fermentation normally occurs. In the spring, the wine is racked into 40-hectoliter Slavonian oak botti and ages at least 2 years. The wine is bottled without filtration or sulfur and aged further. Like 2019, 2018 finished completely dry. Ageno vintages are released when deemed ready, not in chronological sequence, e.g. 2018 (released in 2022) came out after 2019. The name "Ageno" is in homage to the original owner of La Stoppa, Giancarlo Ageno, from whom proprietor Elena Pantaleoni's father bought the property."  

Alcohol: 13% 

*Price and availability in store may vary. Vintage date may differ from pictured.