Gaja Etna Bianco 'Idda' 2024 750ml

884641 

$149.00 price per bottle

1. Introduction This wine comes from Italy, specifically the Sicilia DOP region and the Mount Etna area. 'Idda' is a joint venture between the renowned Gaja family and Alberto Graci, a leading Etna winemaker, which began in 2017. The name 'Idda,' meaning 'she' in the Sicilian dialect, is a local term of endearment and awe for Mount Etna itself. The partnership focuses on sites on the south and southwest slopes of the volcano, combining Gaja's technical mastery with Graci's deep local knowledge to produce pure, mineral-focused wines. 2. Wine Description The Gaja Etna Bianco 'Idda' 2024 has a bright pale yellow colour. The aroma profile includes notes of wisteria, cantaloupe melon, marzipan, and a clear citrus note. Further aromatic hints include tomato leaves, sage, quince, honey, hay, and a note of yeast and dough. On the palate, the wine is precise and saline, with a firm yet elegant texture. It is voluptuous and tight on the entrance, with flavours of yellow plum, pineapple, peach, and passion fruit. It is medium-bodied, and displays crystalline citrus and mineral drive, with bright, sleek acidity. The finish is clean-cut, savoury, and mineral-laced, with a subtle saline concentration and hints of tart citrus. The varietal composition is 100% Carricante, a native Sicilian grape. The wine is noted for its focus and linearity, with a long-lasting impression, capturing the volcanic character of its origin. The optimal drinking window is generally considered to be excellent for ageing. The wine is produced under a close to nature cultivation. 3. Accolades Wine Advocate - 93 points. James Suckling - 92 points. 4. Food Pairing Suggested pairings for this elegant and precise white wine include white fish, seafood, creamy risotto, or grilled octopus. It is also recommended with creamy pasta or simply enjoyed on its own. 5. Vintage Quality The 2024 growing season saw summer heat, winds, and steep diurnal shifts. A special fog, known locally as "acquazzina," offered some respite during the hottest months, and the vines benefited from cool winds blowing inland from the sea. The resulting wine is characterised by a greater sense of direction, focus, and linearity compared to the 2023 vintage. Sourced from vines in Biancavilla, on Etna's southwest slope between 700-800m, and in Belpasso, on the southern slope between 600-700m, IDDA Bianco is vinified and aged in a combination of stainless steel and 10hl barrels, it has a fine, smoky, flinty nose with wafts of peach, mango and white flowers. In the mouth it's intense and vertical, with juicy sapidity and great acidity defining its edges. Subtly textured and zingy, there's peach, citrus peel, honey, lime juice and white flowers to be found, ending with a gentle stoniness.