Gorgona Frescobaldi 2017 Luce della Vite

Professional reviews

Robert Parker (92)

The Gorgona project, with its vineyards located on the only island penitentiary in Europe, just off the Tuscan Coast, marked its first vintage in 2012, with vines planted in 1999. Inmates there cultivate and harvest the island vineyards, which occupy an amphitheater-like slope overlooking the sea. The Frescobaldi estate rents the vineyards and pays a salary to those working there. These are ferrous, volcanic soils, and there are plenty of mineral notes to the 2017 Gorgona, to the point that your first tasting impression is a salty one. There are also some herbal notes in this even blend of Vermentino and Ansonica, such as sage and the Mediterranean scrub brush known as macchia mediterranea in Italy, or chaparral in California. After that, this beautiful wine delivers a long preview of stone fruit, preserved lemon and melon. About 4,250 bottles were made. If you peel off the wraparound label, a little index of the natural flora and fauna of Gorgona Island, a protected National Park, is printed on the back side.

James Suckling (95)

Terrific, mineral-focused nose that shows flint, dried apple rind, guava peel, dried citrus rind, jasmine, salt and thyme. The palate shows great vitality and focus, driven along by well-balanced acidity. Medium-to full-bodied, oily and textured, but so taut and fine. Long, polished finish.

BOW (8.25)