Brunori Le Gemme Verdicchio di Jesi

This estate is third generation, founded in 1956, and is currently run by sister/brother team Cristina & Carlo Brunori. Their grandfather Mario started the estate, which was significant to the Marche region for its innovation (at the time) of site-specific bottling of Verdicchio from their San Nicolo vineyard that was bottled in Bordeaux style bottles rather than the customary jugs. The Verdicchio vineyards benefit from a subterranean mineral salt-water stream that imparts a sense of salinity to the wines. Farming is done organically, and their philosophy is simple: Be attentive to the vines, gentle with the fruit, and don’t let distractions—oak-flavored or otherwise—get in the way. As Cristina says, “The wine we produce today has the same characteristics as the wine our grandfather produced.” The nervy acidity of a thirst-quenching opening swells into a broad, middle-weight core that carries through to a characteristic almond-inflected finish. On the palate, notes of apples, citrus, and melon.