Inama Soave Classico 2004

The 2004 Inama Soave Classico is the finest Soave Classico this excellent estate has produced to date. Most assuredly, Inama has once again proven its prowess and redeemed the reputation of the entire zone with its 2004 offering. In short, the 2004 Inama is Soave Classico at its very finest: delicate, flavorful, pure, and vital. From the very first glimpse of its bright sunny robe to its long, mineral rich finish, the 2004 Inama Soave shines like the sun and sets the standard for all other Soave Classico. Spring flowers, soft alpine breezes, gentle fruit, and the radiant light of nearby Lago di Garda (Lake Garda) all come together in the scent and flavor of the 2004 Inama Soave Classico. In essence, this Soave Classico is the quintessential terroir wine. It reflects the delicate nature of the Garganega grape as much as it mirrors the soil, climate, and sheltered Alpine environment from whence it comes. Moreover, its charm, elegance, and sophistication are all that one can ask, and more, from a white wine. Although some may prefer this wine only barely chilled, we suggest chilling the 2004 Inama Soave Classico to 45 degrees F or less, before allowing it to unfold in the glass. As quaffable as this wine is, it also exhibits subtle charm and a fervent charisma, which befits its status in the Veneto as a white wine to savor.

The 2004 Inama Soave Classico could offer lessons on what it takes to be the quintessential aperitif. Its subtlety, charm, and ethereal lightness make it slide easily down the throat, while it simultaneously and rather surreptitiously begs the brain for more. Nonetheless, we enjoy this wonderful Soave as much, or more, with food. Delicate white fish from both fresh and salt water provide outstanding accompaniments. In particular, trout, perch, and flounder provide ideal backdrops with which to highlight the 2004 Inama Soave Classico. Chilled shrimp with an herb mayonnaise or light remoulade, light hors d'oeuvres, smoked salmon with capers, caviar, and soft ripe cows' cheeses provide other favorite accompaniments. Mild sheep and goats' cheeses offer flavorful accompaniments, too. Enjoy!

Inama has emerged as the leading estate producer of Soave Classico; no mean feat in light of the size and stature of the vast Soave DOC, whose monolithic production of white wine ranks it as Italy's most prolific. As such Inama constitutes a real anomaly in Soave. It was founded as an azienda agricola (a private estate that grows and produces its own wine) by Giuseppe Inama in the 1960's at a time when most Soave grape growers were small farmers looking only to sell their grapes to large commercial ventures such as Bolla or Folonari. Very few Soave growers then, or now for that matter, made any wine for commercial sale let alone estate bottled their entire production like Inama. And unlike the multitude of Soave growers, or even the few bona fide estate producers of Soave, the Inama Azienda Agricola vineyard is located almost exclusively on a single sight, Monte Foscarino, the premier vineyard site in all Soave Classico. Located in the heart of Soave Classico, Inama comprises approximately sixty-six acres. At Inama, the emphasis is strictly on the production of premium and super premium white wines, all of which spring from the appellation's ancient volcanic soils. Inama's most famous wine is its outstanding Soave Classico, which garners consistently high praise from the world's wine critics and trade publications. However, few consumers know that this premier producer also fashions small quantities of an exquisite single vineyard Soave Classico labeled Vigneti di Foscarino. Vigneti di Foscarino sits alone atop the zone's pinnacle of quality, literally and figuratively, and redefines the quality quotient for all Soave Classico. Vigneti di Foscarino hails from the best part of the Monte Foscarino vineyard and is handled separately from the rest of the estate's production. It is perhaps more reminiscent of a single vineyard Pouilly-Fuissé than traditional Soave Classico. Nevertheless, the Vigneti di Foscarino, like all of Inama's wines, exudes the redolence of fresh cut flowers. It also possesses a distinctive minerality on the palate that adds charm as well as complexity to the wine's long spate of flavors. And like the estate's excellent estate bottled Soave Classico, Vigneti di Foscarino is made from the local Garganega grape that is unique to Soave. In addition to cultivating and fashioning Soave's most famous Garganega wines, the Azienda Agricola Inama also grows small quantities of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, which it, too, crafts into wines of distinction. All of Inama's wines are made in the estate's modern winery. However, Inama himself is a minimal interventionalist who believes strongly in the adage "less is more." As much as possible, the natural process prevails at Inama, with only the bare minimum of fining and filtration ever being employed. The result is a bevy of balanced, highly aromatic wines that exude great charm as well as intensity.