Corte Adami Cimalta Soave Classico, 2022
Corte Adami Cimalta Soave Classico, 2022
- 75cl
- 13%
- White Still
- Garganega
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Optimal drinking window: Now - 2027
Sourced from the Castelcerino vineyard, perched atop the highest hill in the Soave Classico region, Corte Adami's Cimalta Soave Classico exemplifies the true character of Garganega. The volcanic soils and elevated altitude impart a remarkable minerality and a lively "nervosité," setting it apart from Corte Adami's already outstanding regular bottling.
Crisp and persistent, this Soave has a vibrant minerality with a distinctive, almost saline quality. A medley of ripe citrus flavours carries through to a long, refreshing finish.
This 2022 is drinking beautifully now in its primary phase, with white peach and citrus fruits at their most vibrant and the volcanic minerality providing structure. Over the next 2-3 years, we expect the fruit to integrate further whilst secondary notes of honey and almonds become more pronounced. The wine should reach its optimal drinking window by 2027-2028, when the interplay between fruit richness and mineral precision will be perfectly balanced. Well-stored bottles will maintain their freshness and complexity until 2027, though the primary fruit charm may gradually give way to more honeyed, nutty characteristics.
What the critics say:
"This Soave is a delightful fusion of peach and honey, reminiscent of a warm summer day's picnic, as hints of tea and almond extenuate the expressive nature of the nose. As the wine fills your mouth, it's like biting into a ripe, juicy peach—the texture luxurious and satisfying. But just when you think you have it figured out, a lively acidity dances across your palate, keeping things fresh and exciting. The finish brings a touch of pithiness, like a playful nudge, leaving you craving another sip."
"The 2022 Soave Classico Castelcerino Cimalta blends an airy freshness with rich notes of raw almond and peach. This is a total pleasure on the palate-silky smooth yet lively and spry, with a candied lime tinge and sweet inner florals complementing its white pit-fruits. This tapers off long, crisp and perfumed, leaving a crunchy sensation to linger. In a word: fantastic. What a value."
Tasting Notes
AppearancePale straw with brilliant clarity and a slight green tinge around the rim.
NoseRipe peach and honey dominate, like a summer orchard in full bloom. Underneath, we find almond blossom and a hint of chamomile tea, with that distinctive mineral lift from the volcanic soils. There's something almost saline about the aromatics that draws you back to the glass.
PalateThe texture is luxurious and silky, coating the mouth with ripe stone fruit flavours. Just when you settle into the richness, lively acidity cuts through with candied lime and white florals. The volcanic minerality provides a backbone of tension that keeps everything fresh and precise.
FinishLong and refreshing with a touch of pithiness and that persistent saline quality that leaves you reaching for another sip.
Overall impressionThis is Soave with real personality, showing how altitude and volcanic soils can transform Garganega into something genuinely exciting.
Food Pairings
In Veneto, this style of Soave traditionally accompanies the region's abundant seafood from the nearby Adriatic, particularly grilled branzino with herbs or crudi of scallops dressed simply with olive oil and lemon. The wine's mineral backbone pairs beautifully with risotto alle vongole, where the salinity echoes the wine's volcanic character. Local antipasti of sopressa Vicentina and aged Asiago cheese complement the wine's texture and acidity. During spring, we'd find this alongside asparagus from nearby Bassano del Grappa, prepared with a simple butter and Parmigiano sauce.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve well-chilled at 8-10°C to showcase the wine's mineral precision and vibrant acidity. No need to decant, though the wine benefits from a few minutes in the glass to allow the aromatics to fully develop. Use a medium-sized white wine glass with a slight taper to concentrate the delicate floral notes whilst allowing the mineral complexity to emerge. The wine is at its most expressive within the first hour of opening.
The Castelcerino vineyard sits atop the highest hill in Soave Classico, where ancient volcanic soils of basalt and limestone create exceptional drainage and mineral complexity. This elevated position, combined with significant diurnal temperature variation, allows Garganega to ripen slowly whilst retaining vibrant acidity. The volcanic influence imparts the distinctive saline minerality that sets this site apart, creating wines with both power and precision. These challenging conditions produce naturally concentrated fruit with remarkable tension and longevity.
Soave Classico represents the historic heart of the Soave denomination, covering the original hillside vineyards around the medieval towns of Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone. The regulations mandate at least 70% Garganega, with the remainder typically Trebbiano di Soave, and restrict yields to preserve quality. These ancient volcanic hills produce more structured, mineral-driven wines than the broader Soave zone, with greater aging potential and complexity. The Classico designation signals a return to Soave's reputation as one of Italy's finest expressions of indigenous white grape varieties.
The 2022 vintage in Veneto started with a deceptively mild winter, followed by a spring that threw curveballs at every turn. Early budbreak looked promising until late frosts in April caught some vineyards off guard, particularly in the hillier zones around Soave and Valpolicella. Summer brought the real drama: scorching temperatures and prolonged drought stressed the vines something fierce, forcing growers to dig deep into their bag of tricks with strategic leaf management and whatever irrigation they could muster.
What emerged was a vintage of surprising concentration, though yields dropped considerably across the board. Garganega in Soave developed intense minerality alongside ripe stone fruit flavours, while Corvina and the Valpolicella blend gained serious structure without losing their characteristic bright acidity. The reds show more muscle than usual but retain their drinkability—think of them as the athletic cousin of a typical Veneto vintage. Most wines are drinking beautifully now, though the better Amarones will reward patience until 2028 and beyond.
FAQs
What does this Soave taste like?
Think ripe white peach meets mineral precision, with honey, almonds, and a distinctive saline quality from the volcanic soils. It's rich yet fresh, with lively acidity that keeps everything in perfect balance.
When should I drink this wine?
It's drinking beautifully now and will continue to develop complexity over the next 6-8 years. The sweet spot will likely be 2027-2030, though it's thoroughly enjoyable today.
What food pairs best with this Soave?
Seafood is the classic pairing - grilled fish, shellfish, or raw preparations work brilliantly. It also loves asparagus, creamy risottos, and aged Italian cheeses like Asiago.
How should I serve this wine?
Serve well-chilled at 8-10°C in a medium white wine glass. No need to decant, but give it a few minutes to open up and show its mineral complexity.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
Absolutely. Whilst gorgeous now, this Soave will develop beautiful honeyed and nutty complexity over the next decade. The volcanic soils provide excellent structure for aging.
How does this compare to other Soaves?
This is Soave Classico from the highest vineyard in the region, so it's more mineral-driven and structured than everyday Soave. The volcanic soils give it a distinctive saline quality and aging potential that sets it apart.
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