2020 Carpineti 'Nzu' Nero Buono Lazio IGT

Lazio is the region surrounding Rome and, as does the rest of Italy, has a long history of winemaking, though the wines remain relatively obscure. Lazio is actually a fascinating land with limestone and volcanic soils. Here, producers were making natural/minimal intervention wines for export before it was trendy.

Carpineti is a small family run operation in the town of Cori, a Medieval town in the forgotten hills of Lazio. Just about 50km outside of Rome. Herbicides, chemical fertilizers and synthetic products are not used in the estate of Marco Carpineti. Carpineti cultivates the native Lazio varieties of Greco Giallo, Bellone, Moro, Nero Buono, and Cesanese. 

The 'Nzu' is a selection of late harvest Nero Buono grapes matured in amphora made from local Cori clay. Grapes are farmed biodynamically. The wine is fermented naturally with indigenous yeasts, there are no additives save for some sulfur at bottling. The dark fruits of Nero Buono shine in this wine. The Amphora has a softening effect on the wine, but the rustic, brambly nature of the grape still shines.