Ottella Lugana Le Creete

Lugana, Italy

One of Lugana's most mineral and terroir-precise wines — Turbiana from the Le Creete chalk-clay soils on the southern Lake Garda shore. White peach, lime, almond blossom, lake mineral, fennel, and a chalk precision that distinguishes this from the richer, more oaked Ca' dei Frati style. Fresh, precise, and with the texture to develop over 5-7 years. The mineral face of Lugana at its most transparent.

Pairing intelligence

• starter: Lake Garda's finest raw freshwater fish preparation and its most mineral white wine — Lugana's chalk mineral and almond blossom character bridges the delicate perch; capers add saline mineral depth; lemon bridges the wine's citrus freshness
• main: The ancient Venetian lake preservation technique and the white wine of the lake — Lugana's mineral freshness cuts through the saor's sweet-acid marinade; raisins' sweetness bridges the wine's white peach character; pine nuts bridge the almond note