Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown Fiano 2025

Made from King Valley fruit off the Corsini family’s La Cantina vineyard. Overnight skin contact, mostly old oak fermentation, three months of regular lees stirring. 110 dozen bottled. An Italianate style was the goal and they’ve achieved it well, with savoury tones hovering nicely atop the fruit. An intriguing aromatic profile arrests from the outset: charred pear, lemon, pine nuts, dried apple, water chestnut, salinity and delicate wood smoke. There’s both freshness and ample texture to the palate, with notes of green apple, pear, white almond, pastry dough and a saline edge. The finish holds lovely bitter almond tones that weave through the fruit, and a fine-boned phenolic edge provides frame and carry to good length. Varietal, interesting, complex, complete. VS&B have nailed it once more.