Monastero Suore Cistercensi "Ruscum" Lazio Bianco 2021

The Cistercian order of nuns at Monastero Suore Cistercensi, near Vitorchiano in Lazio planted their vineyard in 1963, but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that their wines began to attract more attention, largely due to their employment of the noted winemaking consultant, Giampiero Bea. Made from a blend of Trebbiano, Malvasia, and Verdicchio, Coenobium Ruscum is an “orange” wine, with the pressed juice given extended skin contact, in this case 15 days or more. Fairly light in body given the long skin contact, the wine is scented with mint and herbs; on the palate it has a mouth-filling texture with flavors of baked apple and caramel.