Tasting Notes
La Staffa's top wine, only produced in the best vintages, and inspired by some of the great and most ageworthy Verdicchios of the 80s and 90s, and in particular, Cuprese, produced by the Colonnara winery. Riccardo's Selva di Sotto is from one of the parcels that went into this wine, from a site 500m above sea level, entirely surrounded by woodland and dense scrub, with much more clay in the soils. Aged without oak and with no added SO2, this is a sensational and supremely ageworthy expression of Verdicchio that combines great richness and aromatics with a trace of smoke, creamy almond with acacia blossom. Such finesse here.
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Vigneron Riccardo Baldi is a rising star, according to Decanter magazine, and we couldn't agree more. He's seriously stepped up the game since taking over from his parents who were really just hobby winemakers, and is devoted to promoting the Verdicchio grape. Located in the rolling hills of Staffolo in the north of the Marche region, La Staffa is an organic winery in the heart of the Verdicchio dei Castelli de Jesi appellation. This area is much influenced by its close proximity to the Adriatic, its high elevation and clay and chalk-rich soils that imbue the wines with a distinctive character. "I often think of the La Staffa Verdicchios as Meursaults in a lineup of Chablis. The wines are all about tension, acidity and minerality, while many other producers rely on fat and fruit to impress. Owner and winemaker Riccardo Baldi tends 12 hectares of vines around the town of Staffolo, growing at 400 to 550 meters through all-organic, verging on biodynamic practices. These are primarily clay soils with a high percentage of calcium carbonate, which Baldi translates beautifully into the finished wines. The best part is that no matter how enjoyable these wines are upon release, they get even better with time. There are no slouches in this portfolio." - Eric Guido, Vinous.com, May 2024