Monastero Suore Cistercensi "Coenobium" 2005

[Joe Riley]

This is a new (yet very old) project that Giampero Bea (of Paolo Bea fame) is involved with. It is a very old convent that Bea has some relationship to. He started a couple of years ago helping them with the winemaking. The vines are very old and the wine very groovy in a Bea kind of way. It is a white wine from Lazio with some depth and structure.

According to the importer:

The Coenobium is a vino da tavola from the Lazio district (in the area of Vitorchiano about 60 kilometers north of Rome) produced from vineyards organically farmed by the sisters of the Cistercian order. The wine is composed of three grape types: Verdicchio, Grechetto, and Trebbiano Toscano. The vinification is rather straight forward and occurs in stainless steel tanks but, under the guidance of Giampiero Bea, the sisters have begun to leave the juice in contact with the skins for a more sustained period (a la the Santa Chiara from Bea, albeit in much more limited and modest fashion).

Of course, this is PRECISELY the sort of odd white wine that intrigues the bajeezus out of me, especially since Bea's own Santa Chiaia Pagliaro Bianco generally retails for over $40/bottle. This "Coenobium" sells for less than half the price of the Santa Chiara.

Obviously, the perfect wine to enjoy with your favorite "sister"