Monte Tondo Soave Classico Foscarin 2022

Region: Soave, Italy

Grape Variety: Garganega

In 2019 I visited Soave and while standing on an observation deck at the top of the Foscarin vineyard my host, Stefano Inama, commented that, “Soave is an affordable luxury you can enjoy every day.” Of course we were sipping on his bottling of Foscarin, with the sun setting behind us so it was easy to buy his premise. Then a few weeks later I opened a bottle of this wine I happened to have at my house and the feeling was the same, elegance and beauty at a surprisingly affordable price.

At the heart of this wine is the Garganega grape, which reaches the apex of quality on the steep, volcanic hillsides above the village of Soave. The Magnabosco farm their portion of the Cru Foscarin using biodynamic practices then age this version in various sizes of oak barrels for a few months to build complexity. While this doesn’t have a big impact on the bouquet, which is an inviting combination of dried apple, musk melon and fresh pineapple. Where it does make a difference is the palate feel, adding extra richness and depth to what is a gorgeously polished and complex white wine. Think of this more like a Premier Cru Chablis in style but at half the price. Serve with broiled haddock with lemon and thyme or pork cutlets.