2020 Suavia Monte Carbonare Soave Classico Veneto 750 ml

Suavia’s 2020 Monte Carbonare is one of the most ridiculous deals in top-tier white wine. A mineral-filled masterpiece from a stunning vineyard and a region-defining producer, it earned a remarkable 94-point score from James Suckling and an impressive 4.26-out-of-five rating from our members.

The Tessari sisters produce bottlings that Wine Advocate calls “excellent and dynamic” and that Vinous has praised as “some of the denomination’s best.” Suavia’s elevated vineyards in the hills of the Soave Classico zone have been in the family for more than a century, and none is more impressive than the world-class terroir of their Monte Carbonare.

The Italian word “carbonare” refers to coal, an apt description for the home of this wine, which features jet-black volcanic soils. The vines—some up to 76 years old—are planted on terraced hillsides, and for anyone who's spent time in celebrated wine regions, a mere glance at this exquisite site is enough to see the immense potential locked within. It is a world-class terroir. 

Suavia’s quality renaissance began in the 1980s, when they began planting different clones of the grapes in the specific areas of the vineyard that would best suit each one. The resulting wines show a depth and complexity that’s unmatched by Soave from the surrounding, low-lying plains.

Today, sisters Meri, Valentina, and Alessandra continue to raise the bar in Soave through careful farming practices such as manual pruning, and vineyard-management measures designed to ensure a healthy environment, including crop diversification and use of natural fertilizers. Monte Carbonare is fermented and aged in stainless-steel tanks to keep the focus on the vivid fruit and naked mineral expression of such an impressive terroir.