50% Fiano 50% Greco

The red version of Core has had a long PRIMA following dating back to when the iconic Montevetrano first created this sort of second label from grapes purchased from other growers not necessarily contingent to their Salento estate.  It’s an inexpensive and delicious way to experience the incredible quality of this incredible Campanian estate and who wouldn’t want that!?  It was more recently, though, that we discovered the white version, the Core Bianco.  Made from two of the strongest grape personalities in the region, it’s a half-half blend of effusive, aromatic Fiano and the richer, more voluble Greco- a sort of southern Italian variant on the yin-yang, Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon nexus so popular in Bordeaux and the United States. Imagine, then, a bottle of really exceptional unoaked Bordeaux Blanc grown under abundant southern Italian sunshine and you get a sense of what to expect in the 2021 Montevetrano Core Bianco.  It’s surprisingly concentrated with lifted apricot, citrusy orange blossom and wild fennel notes on a medium, almost full, frame that finishes with a ton of crunchy, siphoned-through-volcanic tufa.  As I sit here writing this with a cold glass of Cora at my side, I am thinking grilled tuna or swordfish, perhaps with a lemon enriched sauce on top.  What a pretty wine, but also a very substantial, very characterful one as well.  We were lucky enough to obtain the last 60 bottles of the perfectly-showing 2021 Core Bianco at what we think is a pretty special price- special enough that, after passing the savings your way, it’s definitely case worthy!  

James Suckling: This has an attractive nose of papayas, nectarines, hazelnuts, white chocolate and oranges. Some sage. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a creamy, ripe texture. Ripe fruit balanced by vibrant acidity. Delicious now. 92 points

Wine Advocate: The 2021 Core Bianco is a blend of equal parts Fiano and Greco, the pearl and the diamond atop a crown of Campania white grapes. This wine shows soft creaminess, just a touch, with supple flavors of orchard fruit, lemon meringue, papaya and a hint of sea salt. Winemaking is in stainless steel only, so that pretty texture comes directly from the well-ripened fruit and calcareous clay soils. This vintage is especially bright and balanced. 91 points