Wine: the hare runs happily among the rows of Sauvignon blanc Montauto in Maremma

Between Capalbio and Saturnia in the heart of Maremma, Riccardo Lepri's Sauvignon blanc confirms the value of grandfather Enos's bet who started the company in the early 80s

Master in the glass, the Sauvignon Blanc finds its hints on the palate and nose that come from the Maremma, a land of history as only it can be in our country, made up of large spaces, ancient towers, legends, horses and the sea.

The wine that tells Riccardo Lepri and which is produced in estate of Montauto, a stone's throw from Capalbio but also from Saturnia, in the heart of Maremma it is "clean" and enhances a territory that has a long tradition of white, just think of Pitigliano. A grandfather so important in the life of this Tuscan winemaker that he dedicated a label to his name and to his surname the logo of the happy hare running through the fields. Ithe Sauvignon Blanc is called Gessaia, from the name of the stream that flows through the vineyards, under the Tuscan sun.

2021 opens all its petals accompanying pink prawns on a bed of agretti and then a courgette soup with clams, asparagus, peas and purple potatoes that arrive on the table of Il Ceppo in Rome which, as per tradition, often welcomes winemakers with its gourmet tasting itineraries (Gessaia, 16 euros in the cellar).

Elegant, with a refined minerality, Sauvignon blanc dominates with a vintage like 2011, demonstrating its innate longevity when tasted with spaghetti with garlic and oil, bottarga and squid. A wine that comes from the dreams of grandfather Enos who planted the first cuttings in the 80s to make the vineyards that today produce the Sauvignon blanc that takes his name. Elegant and fine wine in its minerality that derives from the earth where red and ferrous clay, quartzes dominate, with the sea breezes caressing the rows.

The most important vintages of Pinot Noir harvested and bottled by hand

The company with its 14 hectares of vineyards and a property of 200 hectares, run today by Riccardo Lepri who has chosen the profession of vigneron following his grandfather's passion, it produces around 100 bottles a year destined for 35% on exports (USA, Norway and UK) and the remainder to wine bars and restaurants in our country.

Enveloping, intense and persistent then a red with garnet reflections arrives in the glasses, Pinot Noir. Manual harvest, bottling by hand for the most vintages precious, aged in barrique, the 2016 is intended for enthusiasts and starred chefs, while the 2019 and 2020 (14 degrees, 24 euros in the cellar) can make even mere mortals dream.