2023 Ricci Timorasso Derthona, Colli Tortonesi, Italy (750ml)

Daniele Ricci may be an award-winning winemaker, but at his core, he is a farmer who happens to craft exceptional wine. The estate’s roots trace back to 1929, when his grandparents purchased a polyculture farm in the Colli Tortonesi to raise livestock, cultivate wheat, and tend to a few early vineyards. While his father later built the winery in Costa Vescovato near the family home, it was a 23-year-old Daniele who officially transformed Cascina San Leto into a dedicated wine business in 1986. In this region, Derthona serves as a vital regional identity, much like Chianti. Named after the ancient Roman settlement of Tortona along the Via Postumia, the term was collectively adopted around the year 2000 to signify premium Timorasso from the area. Today, Derthona is officially recognized as a sottozona (subzone) of the Colli Tortonesi.

Reflecting the warmth of the vintage, this particular Timorasso was fermented on its skins for three days, resulting in a beautifully saturated golden hue. It opens with understated stone fruit aromas of quince, pear, and peach. On the palate, the warm growing season yields a slightly waxy texture, giving way to rich notes of peach preserves that emerge gracefully on the finish.