Oh Flip, It’s Fiano!
From sunny Campania in South Italy (the shin of the boot) to another sunny spot on the other half of the hemisphere, Fiano has made a pretty good home for itself in Australia. And on a balmy autumn’s day, playing a dangerous game of Uno Flip (Buy it here) with the family, the only inkling of dismay I suffered was the twenty-three crappy cards I had to stuff in one hand.
Billy Button’s The Honest Fiano, however, kept me blissfully delighted.
Tasting
Every sip of the beautifully lean and tight Fiano gave me a spirited burst of citrus, apricot, pear, and spiced apple finishing with a vibrant cleansing acidity. There’s a bit of an almond savouriness to the finish as well adding even more layers to this stunner.
Citrus, pear, apricot, almonds, and beautiful natural acidity.
A cooler-than-usual 2022 season in the Alpine Valleys Region, in Victoria’s northeast High Country, has produced a Fiano with lovely natural acidity and that stony minerality I adore so much. The grapes were harvested only in mid-March from their Greenacres vineyard around Merriang South. The cool continental climate has its challenges with low temperatures in autumn, winter, and spring, but it does give most wines that kick of natural acidity.
Merriang South is a part of the Alpine Valleys Region.
A Cool continental climate, lots of hills and valleys, cold in winter, perfect for weekend tasting trips from Melbourne.
Vinification
The grapes were pressed as one batch straight into stainless steel tanks. The juice was then cold-settled and racked off heavy juice solids before being transferred to Flexcubes and inoculated with selected yeast. Once fermentation was complete the Flexcubes were topped and sulphured. The wine was then left to mature on full yeast lees for three months before blending and clarification. Bottled July 2022. (1)
What is a Flexcube? That is a whole topic on its own. One that I’ll dive into a bit later in my wine-tasting-and-appreciation journey.
Enjoying a bite of creamy mushroom risotto, and having lost all dignity within the space of five Uno Flip games, Billy Button’s The Honest Fiano 2022 was definitely a saving grace. It’s a wine one can enjoy up to around 2027, but I would rather enjoy it now. I bought this bottle at their cellar door in Myrtleford. They have another cellar door in Bright that I must visit soon. Check their spaces out here.
(1) Billy Button The Honest Fiano 2022 tasting notes.
