Vineyards and winemaking
Palazzina is a late-harvest Moscato Bianco from the Il Cascinone estate in Piemonte. The vineyard yields around 3,000 litres per hectare, and the 2018 fruit was picked by hand in the second half of October, roughly a month later than the usual Moscato harvest.
The bunches were dried on traditional rush mats, or graticci, losing around 40% of their weight through evaporation. They were pressed in mid-December, followed by a slow fermentation in oak over two months and subsequent maturation using stainless steel and a smaller oak component. This is a still, concentrated sweet wine presented in a 37.5cl half bottle.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Clear, luminous gold with a gently viscous sheen.
Nose
Lemon curd, marmalade and candied orange peel are lifted by honeysuckle, apricot and acacia blossom.
Palate
Lusciously sweet yet fresh, with ripe apricot, honey and citrus preserve carried by a bright grapefruit-zest bite. The drying of the grapes gives concentration and texture, while fine acidity keeps the long finish vivid rather than heavy.
Food pairing
The half bottle is ideal for a small dessert course. Pair with apricot tart, lemon posset, blue cheese, or a slice of mature farmhouse Cheddar; alternatively, serve a modest glass in place of pudding.
Background story
Tenuta Il Cascinone lies among the rolling hills of Piemonte and is known for working with the region's aromatic varieties. Palazzina takes Moscato beyond the familiar lightly sparkling style through late picking, partial dehydration and patient fermentation.
The 2018 balances youthful citrus and floral lift with the concentration created by traditional graticci drying. Its half-bottle format is well judged for a wine designed to be poured in small, intensely flavoured servings.
