La Stoppa Ageno 2015

A bit tired, but fuck me, this is beautiful. Date fruit, caramel, buckwheat honey, coffee, aged apricot jam, baked apples, orchard blossoms, caramelised lemon, lemongrass. Round, intense, balanced with mature tannins and solid fruit. Oxidised red apples dipped in caramel dominate. Wonderful stuff.

This wine is named after the founder of La Stoppa, lawyer Ageno, who was the first to believe and give value the great potential of this area. The only dry white wine of the estate, obtained after a long spontaneous maceration from grapes of this hot and low yielding land. A person responsible for production is Giulio Armani.

First Production: 2002
Agriculture: Organic, natural green cover between the rows. No fertilizing, weed killers or pesticides
Soil Type: Clay Silt
Trellis System: Simple Guyot
Age of vines: 20 years
Density: 6000 plants per hectare
Vinification: 4 months maceration on skins in stainless steel and/or cement tanks
Fermentation and aging: Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, aged in 40 hectolitre wooden tanks and in bottle for a time necessary, no filtration or sulphites added
Average production: 15 000 bottles

The '15 Ageno displays a complex and sophisticated bouquet, hinting at its maturity. It offers an intricate mix of aromas, including date fruit, caramel, buckwheat honey, coffee, aged apricot jam, baked apples, orchard blossoms, caramelised lemon, and lemongrass.

On the palate, it's round and intense, yet well-balanced, featuring mature tannins and a solid fruit presence. Flavours reminiscent of oxidized red apples dipped in caramel dominate, with subtle Madeira-like notes adding depth and richness. This tasting experience reaffirms the wine's enduring appeal, making it a delight to revisit this particular vintage.

Unfortunately, this is my last bottle of Ageno 2015. Since my last tasting almost a year ago, it developed even further into beautiful stage. Deep hazy amber colour. Beautiful, pronounced and complex bouquet full of apricot jam, buckwheat honey, baked apples, acetone, medicinal herbs and amber. Full-bodied and still crisp with medium-high round tannin, great balance and powerful flavours matching the nose. Very long and evolving aftertaste. Masterpiece.

Legendary wine :) Deep copper colour. Soaked watermelon, wet wood, pickled tomato, white plum, buckwheat honey and sauerkraut. Flavours of sauerkraut and baked apples with honey and cinnamon. Complex, powerful, balanced and multi-layered wine that evolves over the evening, a great companion to have a conversation with! Happy me!

It's interesting to taste this wine again after such a long pause. Well, that's because 2015 is a rare vintage nowadays. Apricot jam, honey, wild dried flowers, baked apples. Acetone hints present at the beginning fade away with time. Powerful and opulent wine.

Beautiful, tasty, complex and sophisticated as always. As someone said, it is always a pleasure to drink this wine. Apricot jam, dried flowers, honey, pickles, orange peel and walnuts. Apples juice flavours, long finish... yummy!

Well made orange wine from famous La Stoppa. Apricot jam, soaked apples, wild flowers, honey, orange peel, walnuts. Full bodied, well balanced, great structure. Apple juice acidity and tannins. Long finish. Sophisticated and very tasty.

Apricot jam, high tannin.

Ageno

Tasting Notes(8)

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