Castellblanc Festigia
DRY WHITE WINE, PREMIUM WINE OF CONTROLLED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION, PDO CROATIAN ISTRIA, WESTERN ISTRIA VINEYARDS
VINEYARD: Starići (Chardonnay), Devići (Viognier, Istrian Malvasia), Kazaveća (Pinot Blanc) and Faragude (Sauvignon Blanc) positions, vineyards erected in 2006-2016, at altitudes of 30-120 m, hilly inclined terrains of various exposures on medium-deep fertile red soil (terra rossa). Single and double Guyot training form, with the yield of 1.4-1.8 kg/vine.
VARIETIES: Chardonnay and Viognier, Malvasia, Pinot Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc. The wine is the best white varieties blend of the year, based on Chardonnay and Viognier, which ferment in new 225 l oak barrels, while other varieties in a smaller proportion add complex fresh fruit and floral¬ aromas. It is not produced every year; approx. 5,000 bottles a year.
HARVEST: From the beginning to mid-September
VINIFICATION: Harvest of selected grapes of separate varieties from the best locations, separation of petioles with minimal damage to berries; depending on the ripeness of a few berries, cold maceration for 12-16 hours under the inert atmosphere of dry ice (CO2), or by pressing the berries via nitrogen (N2) system inertisation. Dominant Chardonnay and Viognier ferment in new 225 l French oak wooden barrels at 18-22 °C, other varieties in stainless-steel containers at 14-16 °C. After the completed fermentation, the blend of the varieties in the best proportion ripens on a fine yeast precipitate for 9 months with regular mixing of the precipitate.
RIPENING: In wooden 225 l French oak barrels and stainless-steel containers, bottled after 9 months ripening on yeast precipitate into 0.75 l bottles with cork stopper, aged in a bottle for a minimum of 6 months after bottling. The wine goes on sale within 2 years after harvesting, but in the bottle continues the development for the next 2-3 years.
RIPENING POTENTIAL: Enjoy immediately or store in appropriate conditions, the expected development and maintenance of quality is 3-5 years from the harvest.
WINE DESCRIPTION: Crystal clear, of lemony-yellow color and extremely complex fragrance of citrus, green apple, tropical fruit, nuts, floral aromas, oak spice aromas such as vanilla, milk caramel, lemon cake, sweet spices; the taste is pure, dry, with medium pronounced acids, creamy full body, mineral, intense and long-lasting fruit flavor of citrus and fresh apple, lemon cream, vanilla, and sweet spices.