WTN: Lugana I Frati Lugana 2006

Just posted a tasting note

http://www.barrys-wine.blogspot.com

very enjoyable wine...and I remember reading somewhere..
that they age well..
My question..anyone had experience of this wine with maturity?
and ..more to the point...as it is perfectly balanced now..
HOW does it mature...?

.....or I may have to kill the case this summer


Barry

[Robin Garr]

Just posted a tasting note

http://www.barrys-wine.blogspot.com

very enjoyable wine...and I remember reading somewhere..
that they age well..
My question..anyone had experience of this wine with maturity?
and ..more to the point...as it is perfectly balanced now..
HOW does it mature...?

.....or I may have to kill the case this summer

Barry, you might consider posting a copy of your note here so we can enjoy it within the context of this topic rather than having to link out to see it (although of course we'll enjoy visiting your blog at other times).

As for Lugana, it's a wonderful wine. I had the good luck to visit the region earlier this year while I was over for Vinitaly, and we spent a too-short day tasting wine and dining in Lugana. It's an amazing white wine, one that in my opinion merits comparison with great whites like top white Burgundy.

And yes, it does age remarkably well. We enjoyed a number of older Luganas up to 10 years or more, and the older they get, the more Burgundian they become, it seems.

[Robin Garr]

For what it's worth, here's a short article I wrote about Lugana, and a tasting note, after my visit:

Touring Lugana

Here you go the... was trying to save space


Fresh, fragrant nose of apricots..flowery;
flavour is 'serious'... ripe fruit(2006 was a
great year here), round fruit on the palate
and then acidity at the finish..
but not the mouth-puckering kind..
this is zingy but perfectly
integrated with the fruit..
really delicious mouthful and no oak to
spoil the natural purity of the fruit..
Points 16.5

If this had been from Tuscany or Piemont..it would cost twice as much...
Price was Euros 10.50..about $ 14...so buy it if you can..and enjoy your summer...

[Jenise]

Barry, we ordered a Lugana the other night for an al fresco dinner at a local Italian restaurant. My husband and I were sharing a gnocchi dish and the other couple were going with a seafood pasta, and it was 90 degrees out. I'm suddenly having a brain hiccup about the producer name, but it's either Zenato or Zenata, and it's the only Lugana I've ever had, but one I know I can reliably order to get a 'serious', to quote you, white wine with the body to work with any dish. I'd love to try some others.

Anyway, welcome to the forum and thanks for the TN.

I agree, Lugana is very underappreciated.

The grape it's made from is the same as Verdicchio, so if you like that range of flavors, Verdicchio is another good option (particularly Verdicchio di Matelica, which is more minerally than the Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio).

Jenise, I think that Zenato makes some very good wites for the price. I have had their PG for several yeas but have moved on to others what with price increases. In fact when it comes to PG I rather like Oregon, and in particular Stone Wolf.