In focus, by Richard Sagala
Tiberio Fonte Canale 2015
This crisp wine comes from the Abruzzo region of Italy.
It is crafted from 100% Trebbiano Abruzzese 58 years old vines grown under a canopy training system (see picture of Cristiana Tiberio under the canopy).
How does it taste?
Acacia flowers on the nose plus mandarine and lemony peel, almond notes and wet stones.
On the palate, you get tension, a light alcohol feel and the flavours consist of the aromas initially perceived etched on a steely plate. Finish is on almonds and stony salinity.
Do I like it?
This wine is a chiseled cristalline gem of a wine, luminous and elegant, with a nervy minerality.
I must add a notice of caution though: (borrowing from music) If you would call “piercing” a soprano voice this wine has high harmonics in spade and sings the “Queen of the Night” Aria (link)
To me, this wine is what you would get if you squeeze rocks hard enough.
Now, see if you share in my subjectivity:
When I tasted it the first time three things came to my mind
1-“it has been a long time since I heard Pierre Hantaï play Scarlatti on the Harpsichord” (link)
2- “makes me think of those Christs carved out of ivory which are detailed to the sinews”
3- “Cristal clear water in a brook on top of pebbles”
If I haven’t lost you so far, the next step is to find a way to get a bottle and raise a toast to Cristiana Tiberio for her elegant Fonte Canale 2015.
In Vino Veritas!
More details on the Tiberio website: link