PaneVino G. Manca - Alvas - 16

ALVAS 2016

A true immortal masterpiece of a natural orange wine, sublimating the very life essence and spirit of local Sardinian varieties. Probably one of the very first of Gianfranco’s cuvees, Alvas is also one of the very few of his wines which is made almost in every vintage and always carries the same label. This is an extraordinarily complex and vibrant blend of (hold on to your seats) local varieties Nuragus, Semidano, Vermentino, Vernaccia, Nasco, Malvasia and Tzaccarredda co-fermented spontaneously, all from old vines from a number of small parcels on limestone, clay and schist soils. Of course super-natural work in the vineyard and in the cellar, with ho devilish fining, filtration or added SO2. Skin contact? Of course! Although Gianfranco doesn’t remember the length for each vintage, which can range from 4 weeks to 7 months. “Alvas” means “white” in Sardinian but the color is that of shimmering pink gold and ancient amber. It paints a never-ending mandala of grilled pink grapefruit peel with dried honeysuckle petals and candied guava, smoked bergamot tea, salted caramel on rye bread and caper blossom.