Appius 2015

The Appius is akin to its own brand. This beautiful assembly of mostly Chardonnay (55%) with Pinot Grigio (20%), Pinot Bianco (15%) and Sauvignon Blanc (10%) is smooth, silky, smoky and sensual. The San Michele Appiano 2015 Alto Adige Appius could be described by more words that start with the letter "s," such as sybaritic, sumptuous and singular. I tasted bottle number 2,607 in this limited release of 6,500 bottles. The wine imparts a brilliant, golden color with bright rays of sunshine that shine from the inside. There was a point of flinty reduction at the beginning, but it blew off quickly. The wine was aged in oak for 11 months, and once blending was completed, it went into oxygen-free steel vats to rest and integrate for three years. Once the wine gets going, it shows peach, Golden Delicious apple, toasted almond and spicy saffron. This is a mid to full-bodied white with the creaminess and inner structure to pair with buttered New England lobster when the right occasion presents itself.

Bright straw yellow with slight green tints. Intense, multilayered, enveloping nose, initially flinty, then much mango, some apricot and then bergamot in the background. Spreads richly on the palate, ripe, tropical fruit with lots of presence.