Fazi Battaglia Passerina 2022 (Marche) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely wine crafted with the ancient and indigenous Passerina grape varietal. It is brand new to the LCBO and arrived on shelves across Ontario today as part of the January 20th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Fazi Battaglia, a winery that was formed in 1949 by the union of two families - Fazi and Battaglia. It was founded in a small cellar in the town of Cupramontana, in the Province of Ancona, within the region of Marche, but grew into an historical wine brand only a few years later after the Angelini family got involved. In particular, it was the efforts of Francesco Angelini, founder of a pharmaceutical company and mayor of Ancona.

Angelini and Fazi Battaglia are known for their Verdicchio wines that are bottled in an amphora-shaped bottle which was inspired by ancient Etruscan containers. In the 1950s, this uniquely shaped bottle would make the little-known Verdicchio immediately recognizable, as well as be an image that would be linked not only to the winery, but also to a grape variety and the whole territory. Investments in improving the vineyard quality and a strong belief in Verdicchio also played an important role in the success of the grape, the winery, and the wine-producing region of Marche.

Today, Fazi Battaglia is back in the hands of the Angelini family as they pursue the road towards quality and innovation that they started in the 1950s. They are also taking on the role of great interpreter of the authentic identity of Italian winemaking. The philosophy at Fazi Battaglia is focused on respect for territorial suitability and promoting the identity of native varieties with transparency and precise production. The winery facility has been completely renovated, while retaining the original external architecture. In the cellar, the new smaller tanks will allow Fazi Battaglia to separate batches to enhance differences in soil, clonal selection, and vineyard exposure. With integrity and transparency, research and innovation, and exploring new production methods, Fazi Battaglia always remains anchored in tradition. While Fazi Battaglia is committed to promoting the Marche territory and synonymous with Verdicchio, they also produce wines using other Italian varieties.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Passerina, an ancient and indigenous grape variety grown traditionally and primarily in the central Italian wine region of Marche. The small grapes grow in medium-to-large clusters and are considered a high-yielding variety. For this wine, the Passerina grapes were grown on sunny hillside vineyards in Marche and picked by hand. After undergoing cold maceration in the press, the grapes were softly pressed and then fermented in steel tanks. It was aged on its fine lees for 4 months and then bottled. Let's see how this Passerina from Marche is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FAZI BATTAGLIA PASSERINA 2022 - IGT Marche, Italy (#36275) (XD) - $16.95
100% Passerina. The lovely, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose is quite complex and evolving in the glass with delicate mineral, lemon citrus, peach, apricot, and stone fruit aromas, plus spice and herbal notes. It has good weight on the dry, medium+ bodied and fleshy palate with ripe, lightly honeyed flavours of lemon citrus, peach, stone fruit, and melon flecked with leesy minerality. It has a finely textured mouthfeel, along with juicy well-balanced acidity. Leesy mineral notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

The Verdicchio by Fazi Battaglia is available at the LCBO, while other fine wines from their portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.