"Remarkably pretty..." Vinous 

Tiberio Trebbiano d’ Abruzzo 2020

Sale $18.89 - Beats Best US Price Online! 

91 pts Vinous

Without question, the wines from Tiberio were our runaway Italian hit from 2020! The latest releases are arriving now and, remarkably, are even better than last year! Sure, I have to say that... I'm selling them... but just take a peek at the Vinous reviews - the Trebbiano was rated 89 pts last year. And it was superb! The 2020? Other-wordly... 

Riccardo Tiberio worked as an export manager for another winery in the region. In his travels through the countryside, he came across a 60 yr-old plot of Trebbiano Abruzzese. Old vines are a treasure trove in their own right, but these were more significant because Trebbiano Abruzzese isn’t really Trebbiano. It’s Bombino Bianco! Ok… I’ve never heard of it either. But the important part is that it isn’t Trebbiano Toscano, the fairly bland, innocuous type found virtually all over Italy.

Riccardo knew he had a goldmine… so he promptly quit his job and made the plunge, adding new plantings of Montepulciano, Pecorino, Aglianico, and more Bombino Bianco!

With is first bottling in 2004, the world was served notice!

In 2008, he handed over the reins to his son and daughter. Antonio handles most of the farming and vineyard management, and Cristiana is responsible for the winemaking. Cristiana learnt form the best too! She travelled across Europe gaining knowledge working with Jacques Selosse in Champagne, Nicolas Joly at Coulee de Serrant, and Egon Muller in the Mosel, before returning to her family’s estate. Structure and minerality are the hallmarks of her style.

Okay, so what do we have? Cristiana only uses the best juice for this wine – the “free-run” juice that flows from the weight of the grapes crushing themselves, as opposed to pressed juice. This free-run juice is simply more flavorful, and not diluted or affected by the bitterness found in the skins and seeds of the grapes.

The result is absolutely stunning.

The scintillating, light yellow wine explodes with aromas of apricot, grapefruit, jasmine and orange blossom. To these we add flavors of Granny Smith apple, almonds and a hint of anise, all finishing super crisp, clean and, dare I say, “zippy”! What to pair with? Well, if you were at the winery and wandered into the only restaurant in town, you might partake of their amazing pizza... check out the pic!

"The 2020 Trebbiano d'Abruzzo lifts up, more savory than sweet and decidedly floral. Dusty dried flowers and incense give way to hints of crushed raw almonds. Its round textures find balance, as a wave of brisk acids and mineral-tinged orchard fruits cascade across the palate. A gentle tug of citrus and hints of peach linger. The 2020 is a remarkably pretty and lifted vintage for Tiberio’s Trebbiano." VM


Or reply. The wine will be available Tuesday afternoon in Chapel Hill. Wednesday in Hillsborough.