Bastianich Plus

Orange-tinged golden yellow. Knockout nose redolent of marmaladey honeyed botrytis, complicated by yellow peach, apricot syrup, lime and roasted pineapple; distinctly high-toned. Supple, suave and mindblowingly complex, with captivating ripe flavors of lime, mango, peach, marzipan, and honey complicated by a custard nuance; this reminded me of a late-harvested petit manseng or a great late-harvest Alsace pinot gris. Very opulent and tactile wine, with a velvety, fleshy mouthfeel that lingers for minutes. This huge, ripe wine shows distinct aspects of surmaturite, but the acidity is bright and vibrant, preventing it from cloying. The most exotic and atypical Plus I have ever tasted; a unique, amazing taste experience that is far removed from a bright, fresh white wine, but you owe it to yourself to try it.

Delivers amazing aromas of ripe exotic fruits, from pineapple to papaya. Full-bodied, with a thick, oily palate and toasted almond and wild fruits, yet remains fresh and lively. There’s a lovely bitter almond note on the finish. A late-harvest, ultrarich style. Friulano. Drink now.

The 2007 Plus (Friulano) is hands down the finest wine I have ever tasted at Bastianich. The 2007 is an explosive, heady white loaded with perfumed, succulent apricots, flowers and honey. More exotic, botrytised notes appear in the glass, adding multiple shades of complexity and textural richness, while avoiding heaviness. The Plus is made from slightly late-harvested Friulano, which accounts for most of the wine’s volume and textural richness. This is a fabulous effort. The winery changed the name of this bottling slightly after the grape name Tocai was phased out in favor of Friulano. Anticipated maturity: 2012–2022.