New from Antonio Gismondi
It's always great to see a warm response to a winemaker visit, and after Antonio and Anabel Gismondi recently spent four days pouring their beautiful Campanian wines in the north and south of the country we have rattled through remaining stocks of some of the popular 2023 cuvées, Cerreto and Foresta. Happily, we were able to preview what was to come on that visit, so we're writing to let you know that both the above wines are now available and ready to order, in their 2024 iteration.
Following the unseasonable rains of 2023 in the region (and indeed most of Southern Italy), and the various challenges that ensued, 2024 is by all accounts a classic vintage. A long, hot ripening season has brought that pithy citrus fruit profile back to the fore and it reminds us of the way these wines felt when we first tasted them - lifted and vital.
Antonio works plots of Malvasia di Candia, Falanghina, Sangiovese and more at various elevations between 300-700m dotted around the foothills of the dramatic Matese mountain range that look down over Napoli. Working exactly as his father did before him, the vines are farmed without chemical treatments. A mix of rocky limestone, with some vineyards sat over a volcanic bedrock, coupled with the mixed altitude and aspect produces wines that are pure, light on their feet and, in certain cases, possess a pronounced, smoky minerality. They are fermented, aged and bottled with no additions whatsoever. Read a more detailed profile here.
In addition to Cerreto and Foresta 2024, we also welcome Antonio's only red wine, Crucella 2023, which has an extra year to rest, in bottle and magnum. With the festive season upon us, we also took the opportunity to replenish our stocks of the delicious frizzante Falanghina, È Festa 2022 for the celebrations.