2021 Andrea Felici Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Superiore

Region: Castelli di Jesi < Italy

Grapes: Verdicchio

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic, some biodynamic practices, limestone and clay soil, 400 foot elevation, fermented 15 days in stainless steel and concrete and aged on lees for 6 months before bottling.

Winemaker: Leo Felici

At Rock Juice, we’re big fans of summer quaffing wines, but sometimes we crave something a little more substantial and intellectual. Verdicchio, a grape whose crisp, minerally whites are considered the Chablis of Italy, checks both boxes in an extremely delicious fashion.  And we think Leo Felici's are some of (if not THE) best Verdicchio around.

The Andrea Felici estate, in the Marche region, Verdicchio country, was founded by Andrea Felici, who began estate-bottling the wines for the first time in 2003. His son Leopardo took over in 2007, after spending time as a sommelier in fine dining restaurants. They grow only one grape variety and make only two wines. It’s all about Verdicchio–as they call it, the “king of whites,” or “the red disguised as a white.” Nestled on a hill at the foot of Mount San Vicino, the area is inland and forested, with more limestone, a bit less influence from the Adriatic Sea, so the temperature swings between day and night are drastic -- and excellent for wine. Here the old vines sink their roots deep into the soils of an ancient riverbed, composed of blue clay and limestone, allowing them to showcase the mineral quality that makes the wines unique. No oak is used in the winery, only stainless steel and cement vats.  

This is classic, perfect Verdicchio – focused and precise – it bounces around in your mouth, waking up the palate and encouraging you to keep sipping. The palate is intense, with lemon pith, and salty/flinty mineral notes. It perfectly balances richness with purity, with a deep core of mineral-tinged orchard fruits and a citrusy concentration, a mix of lemon and lime, that slowly tapers off with a salty flourish.  The ultimate food wine, but also amazing on its own for aperitivo.