Elso by Daniele Ricci: A Tribute to Legacy and Craftsmanship
Elso is a deeply personal wine for Daniele Ricci, dedicated to his maternal grandfather, Ulisse. Known to all as "Elso," Ulisse was a master in crafting Croatina wines. He passed on his knowledge to a young Daniele, teaching him how to handle this notoriously challenging grape, which produces more leaves than fruit and demands patience both in the vineyard and the cellar.
Ulisse showed Daniele the importance of waiting: first in the vineyard, where Croatina ripens a month later than most other varieties, and later in the cellar, where its development is best measured in years or even decades.
Croatina boasts tannins that reveal its close kinship with Nebbiolo. The grape thrives in wooden barrels, ideally 500 to 1,000 liters in size. Thanks to its anthocyanins, which resist oxidation, Croatina maintains a deep, dark color even after years of aging. Like Sangiovese, it benefits from occasional exposure to air, which enhances its complexity.
Though far from easy to handle, Croatina can yield stunning results in skilled hands.
Style
Dense, powerful, and intense, Elso is a wine with serious presence. On the palate, it delivers a bold structure, with tannins that demand attention and assertive alcohol balanced by deep fruit and a vibrant acidity. The finish is dry, warm, and persistent. Its evolution is far from complete, promising a long future ahead.
Technical Sheet
- Grape Variety: 100% Croatina
- Harvest: By hand
- Fermentation: Spontaneous, with wild yeasts
- Aging: Several years in used 500- and 1,000-liter barrels
- Filtration: None
- SO₂: <50 mg/l
- Alcohol Content: 15% vol
- Closure: Natural cork
- Serving Temperature: 16–18 °C (61–64 °F)
- Optimal Drinking Window: Now–2040
- Content and Price per Liter: 0.75 l (€33.50/l)
All winemakers listed with Vinonudo use compost, organic fertilizers, and natural preparations in their vineyards, avoiding the use of herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers.
