The Gagliole 2020 Il Bianco is a blend of Trebbiano and Malvasia Bianca along with Chardonnay and Viognier grafted over old Sangiovese roots. The certified organic wine sees brief aging in Hungarian and French oak. This a soft, medium-bodied white with aromas of orchard fruit, pear, honey and crushed stone. You feel the roundness of the hot vintage. In particular, the Malvasia is not as fragrant or aromatic, and the Viognier tends to develop thicker skins for a creamy texture.

My visit to Gagliole this year was full of many new surprises (and new wines). One of them is the delightfully easy-drinking 2017 Il Bianco. This wine is a blend of 60% Trebbiano with 30% Chardonnay and 10% Malvasia Bianca. The wine is fermented in barrique, but malolactic fermentation was skipped in this warm vintage in order to lock in the natural freshness of the grapes. The Chardonnay was harvested at the beginning of September, and the other varieties came off the vines later. Each was fermented separately. The Malvasia Bianca clone here is semi-aromatic and comes from old terraces. It contributes some floral notes of star jasmine and honeysuckle. The Trebbiano component is not particularly aromatic, but this grape does add peach and white melon. This is a mid-weight white wine (aged in barrique) that finishes with pretty mineral notes of flint and talc power. Only 3,000 bottles were made. This wine is not imported to the United States at the moment.

I was rather surprised by how good the Trebbiano-based 2001 Gagliole Bianco was, though the Malvasia and Chardonnay in the blend were undoubtedly helpful. Light gold in color with pineapple, lemon, and caramel notes on the nose, its viscosity and depth are quite unusual for a wine from this variety. A wine to drink, however, not to keep.Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900