Complex, elegant and totally delicious Lake Garda Italian white Verdicchio (Turbiana): Cà dei Frati ‘Brolettino’ 2020 from Lugana’s leading producer: case of 12 bottles

92/100 – Decanter World Wine Awards

If you have wined and dined on Lake Garda you may well have tasted this delicious North Italian white wine, made by the best producer in Lugana, the family owned Cà dei Frati. This, their ‘Brolettino’ 2020, has just arrived in the Club cellar and it is another classic—fresh, enveloping, savoury and well structured, with a great capacity for ageing. Instantly aromatic and alluring, the 2020 is a superb expression which ranks even higher than usual in critical acclaim.

‘Brolettino’ is a characterful white wine made on the southern banks of Lake Garda from local variety Turbiana, also known as Verdicchio. It is beautifully made—fully ripe grapes and highly productive land give great complexity. To the nose, there are hints of ripe fruit, peaches, yellow apples, rose petals with fresh, balsamic notes. The palate is incredible: dense and all-enveloping, fresh and elegant, creating a wave of fruit, balanced with acidity and a fresh finish. The full structure is accompanied by a taut acidity and a characteristic savouriness which cleans the palate, leaving it full of delicate aromas. Pale lemon in colour, oak ageing gives added palate weight and complexity to the honeyed, stone-fruit flavours. It is a delightful wine with food, pairing perfectly with porcini or other mushroom risotto, pasta or soups, fish- or meat-based pasta or rice dishes, vegetarian dishes, shellfish, mature and hard cheese, lean fish and cured meats.

You could drink this in place of white Burgundy or Chablis, but it is more exuberant. It positively dances across the palate with great delicacy and verve. There is a salty minerality to it, but also a joyous abundance of white peach fruit. The finish is long and racy and pure. It has real presence and intensity.

Considered the best producer in Lugana, Cà dei Frati produces exceptional quality wines. They train their vines low, plant at high density and reduce yields. These standout techniques produce concentrated wines with a distinctive sense of place. Outstanding vineyards are the secret to their success. Most producers in the zone crop at high levels and train the vines high. At Ca’ dei Frati, the vines are trained low. All grapes are grown in Ca’ dei Frati’s own vineyards, on the south banks of Lake Garda, near the town of Sirmione. The vines from which ‘Brolettino’ is made were planted in 1971.

Case of 12 bottles. Non-Members £406. CCUK Members £269 with free UK mainland delivery.