La Canosa is a virtuous agricultural company in the heart of the Marche, which boasts 50 hectares of vineyards in two of the most enologically suited areas of the region, the Piceno (a Rotella) and the Castelli di Jesi (Maiolati Spontini). Here the Reina family company produces both distinctive wines and labels with a more international flavor, making the most of the different exposures, the different altitudes ranging from 135 to almost 600 meters and the pronounced temperature variations between day and night. The soil is calcareous and red clayey, very mineral with a perfect balance between magnesium and potassium which favors the correct development of the physiological processes of the vine.
I recently had the opportunity to taste two good labels that have recently entered the Canosa catalogue, which I now feel comfortable recommending. The first is Aquila Aurea, a Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Riserva Docg which is obtained from grapes grown around 200 meters above sea level, then subjected to maturation in steel at a controlled temperature and six months of rest in the bottle. The 2022 vintage appears straw yellow with some golden reflections, on the nose it shows notes of well-ripe white fruit, citrus fruit, almond, in the mouth it is fresh and elegant, with a solid complexion and a long and pleasantly savory finish ( this is a characteristic of most La Canosa labels). Ready for pairings with shellfish and fish, with good-structured first courses, second courses that are not too “rare” and semi-mature cheeses. The other label is a red, Pactum, a Marche Rosso IGT, a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Montepulciano, Sangiovese and Petit Verdot grown at 450 meters. The five types are vinified separately in Allier tonneaux for 24 months and then, after blending and bottling, the wine sits in the bottle for a few months seeking harmonization. The color is intense ruby red, the nose unbalances on small red fruits and sweet spices, the sip is warm and powerful, with good length. Perfect for meats of all kinds, especially roasts and braised meats, and with long-matured cheeses.
The rest of the La Canosa menu offers among the whites the Servator and the Pekò, both Offida Passerina Docg, the Viridis and the Picus Virids, two Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Doc (the second Superiore), the Signator reds (Rosso Piceno Doc a based on Montepulciano and 50 percent Sangiovese), Nummaria (Rosso Piceno Superiore Doc based on 70 percent Montepulciano and 30 percent Saniovese), Nullius (Marche Rosso Igt based on pure Sangiovese), Musè (Marche Igt Rosso based on Montepulciano on 100 percent), Tesino (Marche IGT based on 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon) and Rovetì (Marche IGT Merlot). There are also four Charmat method sparkling wines, three Passerina in the Extra Brut, Brut and Extradry versions and the Canoso, based on Sangiovese, made sparkling in red.
La Canosa, immersed in the heart of the Sibillini National Park, takes its name from the nearby village Poggio Canoso, one of the four castles of Rotella, built between the 12th and 13th centuries by the Farfensi (later Benedictine) monks in the heart of Val Tesino, behind of the Mount of Ascension. It straddles the 43rd parallel, a latitude historically suited to the production of excellent wines. The company was born from the desire of Riccardo Reina, in the early years of the millennium, to produce high quality wines enhancing the terroir of the area. Today the company is preparing for the generational transition between father Riccardo and daughter Alberica and also boasts 13 hectares recently purchased in the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi area.
The cellar has a modern and preferably sustainable approach throughout the production cycle, large and bright areas with self-produced energy from solar panels. Thanks to the help of the technology adopted there is full control of temperatures throughout the winemaking process.
