Ottosoldi Gavi DOCG 2019

Ottosoldi is one of the most consistent producers of Gavi and the 2019 vintage in Gavi was another banner year for Cortese and Italy’s Piedmont. Ottosoldi’s 2019 Gavi D.O.C.G. once again embodies the essence of the Cortese varietal – supreme elegance and impeccable balance. From the wine’s pale yellow sun-splashed color to its long, snappy, dry finish, the 2019 Ottosoldi Gavi offers delightful drinking. Fragrant with floral scents and the delicate aromas of pear and citrus, the 2019 Ottosoldi Gavi elicits a smile as it pleases the nose and palate. The 2019 Ottosoldi Gavi maintains the healthy tension between fruit and fresh acidity for which the Cortese varietal is renowned to deliver a hauntingly delicate ethereal quality that makes the finest Gavi nearly irresistible. Add subtle minerality and a crisp, racy finish and it becomes obvious why Ottosoldi’s Gavi has consistently been lauded by critics and consumers. For optimal enjoyment, we suggest serving the pure and delicious 2019 Ottosoldi Gavi moderately chilled (40°-45° F). Salute!

Ottosoldi’s delicious 2019 Gavi D.O.C.G. makes an ideal way to begin an elegant dinner party or the perfect aperitif after a long day, as it offers both comfort and refreshment to help wash away the weather stained cares of life. Although few white wines make better aperitifs than Ottosoldi’s Gavi, our preference is to bring it to table to accompany fish, shellfish, poultry, and veal. Sautéed Sea Scallops prepared in a cream sauce with unsalted pistachio nuts and Mediterranean herbs is one of our all-time favorite dishes to accompany Ottosoldi’s Gavi. Pan Seared Red Snapper stuffed with sautéed spinach and melted Fontina cheese provides another delicious accompaniment to this wine. Shrimp Scampi with linguine and Pasta Primavera provide additional companionship. Chicken Francese and Veal Piccata offer more outstanding choices to serve with the 2019 Ottosoldi Gavi. In addition, the Cortese grape possesses an affinity for all kinds of young cow’s milk cheeses, so bring on the gourmet cheese platter with Gouda, Muenster, perfectly ripe Comté, or another favorite soft cheese. Enjoy!

Owned by Stefano and Massimo Moccagatta and Michele Marsiaj, the Ottosoldi estate highlights the beauty of the Cortese grape in Gavi, Italy’s premier appellation for the elegant Cortese varietal. Ottosoldi was born of a small parcel that Stefano and Massimo’s grandfather purchased in 1920. Their grandfather, who purchased the diminutive vineyard Ottosoldi now cultivates, referred to the land as “Otto soldi” (eight coins), an Italian expression signifying that it was worth a fortune. From this tiny southwest facing vineyard on limestone and marl soils, Ottosoldi fashions exceptional Gavi, which is fermented in both stainless steel and large tonneaux barrels, imbuing the wine with both freshness and texture.

Stefano and Massimo Moccagatta’s unrelenting goal is to re-establish Gavi and Piedmont’s celebrated Cortese as one of the world's great white wines. In their D.O.C.G. Gavi they tie together tradition, terroir, and the production of one of Italy’s most renowned white wines, which they dedicate to their grandfather and "all grandparents who pass on from generation to generation, fundamental family values."

Gavi has been likened to white Burgundy, but the comparison does neither wine justice. At their best, both Gavi and white Burgundy possess ripe, rich fruit, a clean mineral quality, and ideal balance, but Gavi will always remain a more delicate wine than white Burgundy. The Cortese varietal, from which authentic Gavi is born, in harmony with the soil, climate, and ultimate terroir of the Gavi zone, renders a decidedly unique, somewhat different wine from white Burgundy. Gavi will almost always be the lighter, more ethereal wine, but none the less for the difference. True Gavi provides the perfect balance between clean, delicious fruit and vibrant acidity, which makes it an ideal aperitif as well as a sublime accompaniment to seafood and poultry.

In the north of Italy, nestled just beneath the great Alpine wall as it tumbles out of Switzerland and the gleaming Mediterranean Sea, lies Piemonte, Italy’s Piedmont. It is a region of myriad beauty. It is also the region of Italy closest to France in proximity as well as in the sheer quality and variety of exceptional wines it produces. For centuries, Italy’s Piedmont remained a prize to be won among warring European powers, no doubt at least in part on account of the province’s world famous cuisine that still draws happily on the abundance and quality of local truffles. Yet, today, it is the superbly made wines of Italy’s Piedmont that garner the most international recognition: complex, hedonistic red wines, still delicate whites such as Gavi, and sweet haunting Muscats. With such exquisite fare, should anyone question why the wines of the Piedmont and the hearty robust delights of the Piedmontese table remain the region’s most famous ambassadors to a hungry and thirsty world?