Cecchetto Giorgio Gelsaia Piave 2000
It has been a decade since the 'Maestro' Luigi Veronelli (writing in Corriere della Sera, April 14, 2002) described Ceccetto's Raboso as a 'bewitching reality for its acidity, bouquet and structure'. Giorgio Cecchetto leads a group of producers that has worked to make this wine known. Raboso is an historic and indigenous red grape from the left bank of the Piave River that is difficult to grow and make wine from. This because while it blooms early it ripens late, well into the latter half of October, which makes it vulnerable to spring frost. Being difficult to grow it was purposefully abandoned in the 1980s in favor of other indigenous grapes that were easier to produce and bring to the market. Together with his wife Cristina, Giorgio carries on a 'stubborn' tradition in making Raboso that only the most passionate enthusiasts in the Veneto region know.
The wine is a very dark red, almost black, with tannins and acidity in overabundance. The tannins boarder on the impossible and the acidity is always biting, so this is not a wine for everyone. Over the past 20 years he has tried to soften Raboso's edges without changing its personality in order to bring it to the tables of Italy's best restaurants.
