90+ Cellars Pecorino

This is a dry Italian white made from Pecorino, a grape that holds its acidity well and leans toward citrus and orchard fruit. The 90+ Cellars bottling is listed as crisp and dry. Expect lemon and grapefruit peel alongside pear or green apple, and possibly a light herbal or mineral edge, which Pecorino often shows. Wines in this style are usually light to medium in body, with no tannin to speak of and little or no oak influence. The finish is typically clean and fairly short to medium, which keeps the wine fresh instead of heavy. That acidity makes it a good match for food with salt, fat or brightness. Expect it to work with grilled or fried seafood, shellfish, calamari and white fish with lemon. It should also suit light pasta dishes such as clams, or vegetables with olive oil and herbs. Fresh or lightly aged cheeses, including mozzarella, ricotta and young goat cheese, are an easy fit. It should handle chicken, risotto and vegetable antipasti too. Very spicy or heavily sauced dishes will tend to overwhelm a wine this delicate. Serve it well chilled, around 7 to 10°C (45 to 50°F). Taking it out of the refrigerator about ten minutes before pouring keeps the fruit from being muted by cold. It doesn't need decanting. If anything, extra air time only dulls the fresh aromas. A standard white wine glass with a moderately narrow bowl will concentrate the citrus and orchard notes without letting them fade too quickly. Wines like this are generally made to be enjoyed young and fresh, so treat it as a drink-now bottle rather than one to cellar. Keep it in a cool, dark place and open it within a year or two of purchase for the brightest character. Once opened, recork it and keep it in the refrigerator, and plan to finish it within a day or two.