The Selva Capuzza family winery produces wines in three different DOC appellations: Lugana, San Martino della Battaglia, and Garda Classico. This makes them the only winery in the area. They work exclusively with indigenous grape varieties. Therefore, you won't find Merlot or Chardonnay here. The winery is located in the municipality of San Martino, about four kilometers from Lake Garda, and was founded in 1908. Today, the fourth generation of the family, Luca Formentini, is at the helm. They own approximately 30 hectares of vineyards and operate according to ecological guidelines.
The Turbiana grapes for this Menasasso wine come from a small portion of the Selva vineyard. For this Riserva wine, winemaker Luca Formentini aims to harvest highly concentrated and aromatic grapes. Therefore, the manual harvest is carried out a little later. To ensure the grapes retain their fruit and freshness, most of the must is aged in refrigerated stainless steel tanks. A small portion is aged for approximately 18 months in oak barrels. Finally, the wine is blended and bottle-aged for six months.
The Menasasso Lugana Riserva emerges in the glass with an amber-yellow color. The aromas are immediate: complex notes of fennel, melon, honey, hazelnuts, and hints of toffee. Some of the wine is fermented in oak barrels, which adds the perfect dose of complexity and vanilla notes. On the palate, it's a concentrated wine with rich flavors and pleasant acidity. The finish is long with a distinctly tropical fruit character. All in all, it's a complex and concentrated wine that's surprisingly accessible.
