In the glass
Aroma: dried fig, tamarind, walnut, candied orange peel
Palate: dried cherry, honey, burnt caramel, rancio
Cult Vin Santo from raisined Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile), 10+ years oxidative ageing in small caratelli barrels.
What it pairs with
-
Aged hard cheese with dried fig
Sweet-savoury contrast with the wine's rancio. -
Cantucci di Prato
Find cantucci di prato on TableJourney →
The canonical Vin Santo pairing: dip the almond biscotti. -
Dark chocolate with sea salt
Salt-and-cocoa contrast for the wine's caramel depth.
How to serve Avignonesi Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 12-14°C. Cellar temperature (12-14°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a small dessert-wine glass (3-5oz pour): the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Aged hard cheese with dried fig, Cantucci di Prato, Dark chocolate with sea salt. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Avignonesi's Occhio di Pernice is a Vin Santo made from Prugnolo Gentile (rather than the usual Trebbiano-Malvasia base), raisined and aged 10+ years in caratelli. First labelled vintage 1979 and considered the genre's benchmark.
- 1979 — First labelled Avignonesi Occhio di Pernice
Facts
- Producer
- Avignonesi
- Grapes
- Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile) (100%)
- Classification
- Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC Occhio di Pernice
- Oak
- 10+ years in small chestnut and oak caratelli
- ABV
- 15.5%
- Price
- EUR 250 to 500 per 375ml at retail
- Drinking window
- 10 to 30 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1979
Scores
- Vinous 96 (2008 vintage, reviewed 2017)
Frequently asked about Avignonesi Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo
What does Avignonesi Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo taste like?
On the nose, dried fig, tamarind, walnut, candied orange peel. On the palate, dried cherry, honey, burnt caramel, rancio. Structurally full-bodied, high acidity with a long finish. Cult Vin Santo from raisined Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile), 10+ years oxidative ageing in small caratelli barrels.
When should I drink Avignonesi Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo?
Drink 10 to 30 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Avignonesi Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo?
Aged hard cheese with dried fig is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Cantucci di Prato and Dark chocolate with sea salt. Sweet-savoury contrast with the wine's rancio.
What grapes are in Avignonesi Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo?
The blend is Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile) (100%). The wine is classified as Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC Occhio di Pernice.