LEON

Leon is the most ambitious and most technically demanding wine in the Masari portfolio — a Durella Metodo Classico aged for forty-two months on its own lees in bottle, from an ancient Vicenza grape of particular mineral and aromatic distinction. It is described as elegant and decisive: the combination of qualities that extended traditional method lees ageing on a grape of inherent mineral character and high natural acidity produces in its most accomplished expression.

The Durella grape — also known as Durella Veronese or Durella della Valpolicella — is one of the most interesting and most underappreciated indigenous varieties of the Veneto: a white grape of high natural acidity and distinctive mineral character whose name derives from the Italian duro (hard, firm), reflecting both the grape's thick skin and the wine's characteristic structural firmness. Durella's natural acidity makes it one of the Veneto's most suitable bases for traditional method sparkling wine production of genuine ambition.

Forty-two months on the lees is a commitment of considerable seriousness — well beyond the minimum required for any traditional method designation, and sufficient to develop the autolytic complexity, the fine persistent perlage, and the structural depth that distinguish great Metodo Classico from adequate production of the same style. The Agno Valley's volcanic and limestone soils, the cool temperatures of the Piccole Dolomiti-sheltered valley, and the estate's terraced vineyard environment all contribute to a base wine of the quality that forty-two months of lees ageing requires.

Leon is elegantly expressive of mineral and fragrant aromas — the Durella grape's most distinctive qualities amplified by four years of patient bottle development. One of the Veneto's most seriously committed traditional method sparkling wines.

Available through UniqueWines.