Made in stainless steel only, the organic La Valentina 2021 Pecorino is luminous in appearance with lemony notes that are backed by bitter almond and minty apple. The wine shows medium texture with soft creaminess on the close. Fruit comes from a six-hectare site planted at a low 150 to 250 meters in elevation. Production is 50,000 bottles.

The brodetto di pesce is a typical seafood soup made on Abruzzo's Adriatic coast, and this 2017 Pecorino is exactly the ticket for such a pairing. It's a fun and cheerful wine, a fresh and easy white with plenty of citrus, bitter almond and orchard fruit. The fruit is harvested in mid-September and winemaking is simple, using basic stainless steel. It ages on the lees for two months for a touch of extra creaminess and texture.

La Valentina's 2016 Pecorino is crisp and tight. If you are looking for new tastes from Italy, I highly recommend the Pecorino grape. The wine is linear and tight with a compact build. But it also offers vibrant and tonic aromas that span from exotic fruit to dried grass. It's a perfect warm-weather wine.

The 2014 Pecorino is an IGT wine from the Colline Pescaresi appellation in central Italy. This area is becoming well known for the work being done on the increasingly popular Pecorino grape. This is a truly beautiful wine with a surprising measure of complexity. It shows exotic fruit, crushed mineral, sage and even a touch of green olive or caper. It delivers a really nice level of intensity and pleasure.

The estate’s 2011 Pecorino impresses for its energy and focus. White peaches, flowers and subtle hints of earthiness are layered into this beautifully nuanced, vibrant wine. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2014. La Valentina is a great source for flavorful reds that emphasize the richness Montepulciano is capable of. The whites are newer to me, but they are equally delicious, and great values too. Importer: Dalla Terra, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-5405