The 2011 Soave Motto Piane takes Garganega, this work horse white grape at the base of all Soave wines, to new heights. Clusters were harvested the second week of September and subsequently laid to dry on straw mats for approximately 30 days. Winemaking sees a variety of vessels including stainless steel, tonneaux and botte. The bouquet is expressive and elegant with enduring tones of candied peach, lemon custard, stone fruit and yellow flower. Its elegance is capped by perfectly chiseled mineral notes that frame and contain the wine’s terrific expressiveness. Soave is an age-worthy white and this wine will continue to evolve in the upcoming years. Drink 2014-2019. Antonio Fattori is one of the most talented white winemakers in the Veneto. Although he also makes Valpolicella reds, his white Soave expressions are the true standouts. I remember visiting him at his super sleek and impossibly tidy winery a few years back. He led me to a tiny plot of land just across the street and pointed to the soil. It was the most amazing color with deep amber-yellow hues and bright veins of red. Just one hill over, I had seen dark soils with dusty shadings of dark grey and black. The volcanic geology of the Soave region is fascinating and the variability is mesmerizing. The red soils of the aptly named Terrossa di Ronca subzone produce ethereal and elegant white wines that are powerfully distinguished by their chiseled mineral notes. Fattori’s wines embrace this quality perfectly. Importers: T-Edward Wines, www.tedwardwines.com; Vanguard Wines, www.vanguardwines.com; J & J Importers, www.jjimporters.com; Terra Vino Inc., www.terravinopartners.com; The Wine Co., www.thewinecompany.net