Community Review

Custoza San Michelin - Gorgo 2014

Veneto, Italy

Community Score: 4.6/5
Community Reviews: 2

Alcohol: 13%

Drink: Now

Stephen Beaumont CSW CWE rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Not far from Lake Garda in the Veneto region of North Eastern Italy, the local winemakers are busy making a red wine with which you are probably familiar - Bardolino. Overlapping that area of production is the DOC of Custoza. It is a little known wine outside Italy which is a shame as they can be interesting, and in the case of this particular offering from Gorgo, spectacular!

At a recent Italian wine tasting held at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, I was amazed at the quality, complexity and just plain interestingness (if that is even a word!) of this blend of Garganega (the grapes used for Soave), Cortese, Riesling and Trebbiano. Up to 9 grape varieties are allowed in the Custoza blend and proportions are tightly controlled.

The deep straw-yellow colour was not at all what I had expected, but it was bright and clear. On the nose it was like a summer basket of apricots and peaches, and ripe ones at that, with a waft of flinty minerals. I was confused. Was I smelling a muscat from Alsace?I'm sure that's where I would have gone had I been blind tasting this, at least from that bouquet. And how wrong I would have been. On the palate, another surprise. Very dry with just the slightest suggestion of residual sugar, just enough to continue the peach sensation but somehow more savoury and deep, yet still vital and bright with enough acidity to balance that ample fruit. And this is a 2014 wine, bottled weeks ago but already with this level if complexity!

This is the fun of wine tasting - making new discoveries and then letting your mind soar into flights of fancy. What would I eat with this wine? As delicious as it was on its own, I would imagine it being even better with food. The tasting notes suggest raw or grilled fish and shellfish, white meats, rice and vegetables. Sound like sushi? I think this would be perfection and I cannot wait to find a bottle to try with my next bento box. Sadly I may have to do this in USA (where amazingly it sells for around $18/btl) as it is not yet available in Canada. Or I can jump on an international Lufthansa Business Class flight where they are serving to their lucky passengers.

Highly recommended!

Read Natalie's Full Review

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

SAVE MY SEAT!

Wine of the Week

As featured on

Charles Baker White Wine
Riesling 2021,
Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A. ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 333,880 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

Best Books of the Year

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

Best Books of the Year

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources. learn more

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 333,880 strong:

Community Review