Nascent 2020

Nascent is the estate’s defining statement in a blended white wine, which owes its inspiration to Octagon’s achievement in our reds, and its existence to the worthiness of varietals we’ve developed in our signature style, from winegrowing to fermentation to blending to aging. Like Octagon, Nascent draws on varietals of the most consistent success, confirmed in international competitions and criticism since the turn of the century, and solves the riddle, “Where can the finest wine go, when it’s seen Venice?” It can go back, in a different color – still as truthful, still as illuminating – where Venice is the full flash of brilliance to be extracted here.

Winegrowing is the first and defining challenge in wine blending. Recalling Octagon, Viognier stands as Nascent’s Merlot, Vermentino as its Cabernet Franc, and Falanghina lends the structural support of Petit Verdot or Cabernet Sauvignon. The first two varietals have showered us with more success than any several estates should expect in twice as many years. Next, Nascent’s development lies in the close comparison of vineyard parcels, to identify a stable foundation for selection. Visitors can overlook exactly the vine rows which yield us our Nascent, running parallel with the slope up Goodlow Mountain by the Church of the Brethren. There, in 5.5 acres of Viognier and 6.5 of Vermentino, plus 1 of Falanghina, are the vines of this wine and their own Reserve label, while Falanghina’s other appearance is in our Fiano. These few rows of vines benefit from pruning techniques designed to yield not just a fine Reserve, but even a Nascent.

After mastering the growing sites and the vine maintenance techniques, all winemaking hopes for Nascent required the diligent comparison of fermentation alternatives and blending ratios, and the designation of ideal barrels for its aging. The process took years, beginning in earnest as the success of Vermentino, introduced with the 2010 vintage, placed it smashingly on par with the Viognier, established a dozen years before. As much as Vermentino encouraged our expanding to other varietal islands of warm-climate grapes, Fiano and Falanghina, it transformed hope into the chart of navigation, for passage back to Venice in Nascent.

From harvest to the wine’s release in bottle is a voyage of 3 years. Fermentation for Nascent’s Viognier is not in stainless steel anymore, but takes place in 660-gallon casks of thick staves of very low-porous Austrian oak, minimally toasted. Here the principle of neutrality in our house style is lent the most advanced subtlety and suppleness in the result. For Vermentino and Falanghina, the neutrality of our Reserve white style in stainless steel is furnished instead by our classic 60-gallon barriques in French oak, used through 6 to 10 previous vintages, yet of greater porosity.

One year later, when extensive tastings have determined the ratios of the blend, the wines and their lees are racked and blended, into one stainless steel tank, and from there returned to barrels until the Fall, completing a full year in neutral wood. After that year, the wines are assembled in one stainless steel tank for 20 additional months of maturing. Throughout this gentle, extended development through 32 months, the lees are stirred at least monthly. Finally, the wine is filtered and bottled to rest for 4 months before release, with a full 36 months of aging. Nascent is and will be rare.

Palladio Chef Michael Clough collaborated with Winemaker Luca Paschina and Sommelier Alessandro Medici in designing a celebratory dish of Lobster, Sea Scallop, and Osetra Caviar for the launch of Nascent, September 2021 – the 200th anniversary of our ownership family’s history in wine in Italy and 45th anniversary of their founding of this wine estate.