Cincinnato's Pantaleo is a pure Greco that brings to the glass the primordial force of a soil that, thousands of years ago, was bubbling with magma and fire. We are in Cori, on hills overlooking the sea. This is where the Cincinnato winery operates, a pillar of virtuous cooperation. Greco, a grape variety that many associate exclusively with Campania, has found a welcoming home and a very special expression in these Lazio lands. A demanding grape, it loves the sun but requires poor, well-drained soils to prevent it from becoming too vigorous. The result is a wine that combines Mediterranean sunshine with an almost Nordic tension, thanks to the volcanic matrix that forms its deep DNA. After very gentle crushing and destemming, the must ferments at low temperatures exclusively in stainless steel. The real added value, however, comes from the ageing process: the wine rests on the fine lees for several months. This prolonged contact allows Pantaleo to gain in richness and complexity, making it less “sharp” and decidedly more enveloping on the palate. Before bottling, it undergoes a further period of ageing in steel, which varies depending on what the vintage has to offer. Intense yellow in colour with golden reflections that testify to perfect phenolic ripeness, the nose is an explosion of elegance. One is immediately overwhelmed by floral aromas of hawthorn and acacia, which then give way to a basket of delicious fruit: white peach, pineapple and fresh citrus. A bouquet that seems to go on forever, enriched by a mineral nuance reminiscent of flint. It does not disappoint on the palate either. Savoury, fresh and mineral, with an acidic backbone that supports an important structure. The finish is one of those that linger, long and persistent, with a closing note that returns to white-fleshed fruit. Perfect with delicate risottos, perhaps with wild herbs or asparagus, it pairs well with white meats, such as rabbit with olives, or with more structured fish dishes such as baked turbot.