Giovanni B. Columbu and the wedding Malvasia

Malvasia di Bosa Alvaréga, born by chance from the wise work of the Columbu family, was tasted in a surprising vertical for the first time ever.

The Columbu family is universally known in the world of wine for their extraordinary Malvasia di Bosa reserve. This is a precious, unique wine that, unfortunately, is produced in small quantity.

Lesser known is their Malvasia di Bosa Alvarega, a young Malvasia with a high sugar residue (35/45g/l) created by the Columbu family a bit by chance given the stiff opposition by patriarch Battista who considered it an aberration.

Then, in 2003, his son Raffaele was set to me married and for the wedding feast a sweet Malvasia was needed and thus Alvarega was born. The grapes for this wine are the same as for the reserve the difference being that after they have been pressed the juice is put into stainless steel vats to undergo cold fermentation for 36 hours. No sulfites are added and the wine matures in stainless steel for 6-8 months at a temperature of 4°C. The wine is slightly filtered before being bottled.

The decision to have a vertical tasting of this wine (the first-ever also for the producers) came about one afternoon in their cellar in the company of Gianmichele Columbu and his partner Vanna Mazzon. We opened a 2013 and were amazed by the integrity of this criticized wine (even if at the end Battista himself admitted how good Alvarega was).

And so we decided to try a comparative tasting and the results were quite surprising.

Malvasia di Bosa Alvaréga 2018

94/100 - € 25

A bright, yellow color and intense scents of aromatic herbs and yellow peach that blend in with a delicate nuance of citrus. The mouthfeel is pulpy, full and vibrant, still very young and juicy with a very long persistence.

Malvasia di Bosa Alvaréga 2017

90/100 - € 25

A bright, yellow color and a wrapping aroma with notes of incense and strawflower. The mouthfeel is bold yet nicely balanced and the finish is very marine-like.

Malvasia di Bosa Alvaréga 2016

92/100 - € 25

A bright, yellow color and a broad bouquet with notes of Mediterranean shrubs, cider and white pepper. The elegant mouthfeel is fresh and laid back with a long, flavorful and lively finish.

Malvasia di Bosa Alvaréga 2014

93/100 - € 25

A golden-yellow color and complex aromas of Mediterranean shrubs, resin, spice and a light nuance of walnut husk and barley candy. The full mouthfeel is juicy and bracing with an impeccable balance and a very long and flavorful finish.

Alvaréga 2013   

94/100 - € 25

This vintage did not qualify for DOC classification and came out as an IGT Planargia. A golden-yellow color and multifaceted scents of aromatic herbs and walnut husk. The austere mouthfeel is full and very complex with an explosive finish of strawberry tree honey and quince apple.

Alvaréga 2008   

95/100 – not avilable on the market

Up until 2011, this wine was produced as a Planargia IGT. A bright, yellow color and the bouquet is that of a great wine with its scents of aromatic herbs, walnut husk and dried fruit. The austere mouthfeel is full and meaty with great integrity. The finish is fresh, bracing and multifaceted with and endless aftertaste.

Alvaréga 2007            

96/100 – not avilable on the market

A golden-yellow color and seeping and very fine aromas of Mediterranean shrubs, iodine and barley candy. The mouthfeel has a superior elegance and ineffable freshness with a very fresh finish that is very long, composed and flavorful.

Alvaréga 2005   

90/100 – not avilable on the market

A golden-yellow color while the aroma is not as complex as the other vintages and has notes of spice and aromatic herbs that serve as a garnish to a mouthfeel that is nicely full with an aftertaste of dried fruit and almond.

Alvaréga 2002

94/100 – not avilable on the market

This was the first year the wine was produced. A golden-yellow color and explosive aromas of Mediterranean shrubs and iodine with notes of candied citrus peel. The full mouthfeel is bracing and has great complexity with a boldness that is perfectly upheld by a refreshing acidity. The finish is an ode to the sea.

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