Suore Cistercensi 2024 'Ruscum' Lazio Bianco

Ruscum is a blend of Trebbiano, Malvasia, and Verdicchio (same blend as the Coenobium) but with about 2 weeks of gentle skin contact. The nuns let the skins do their own thing, resting in the juice until they fall to the bottom, and skimming off the top as they darken: letting nature decide how long they macerate. The exact amount of skin contact varies year to year with this technique, and the 2024’s have 15 days. The skins bring a beautiful golden hue, along with scents of apricot, honeycrisp apple, fennel pollen, ginger, and hazelnut. Underneath all of this is a pop of smoky minerality, from the volcanic soils of Vitorchiano and enough acidity to keep everything fresh.

-ML