WTN: Another orange wine

Following up on my recent tastes of freakishly delicious wines . . .

2007 Monastero Suore Cistercensi Coenobium Rusticum Lazio [55 percent Trebbiano, 15 percent Verdicchio, 20 percent Malvasia, 10 percent Grechetto] (Lazio IGT, western central Italy) - I only had a glass of this, but, what a glass! And—the bottle had been opened for five days sealed only with the cork pushed back in and the owners said the wine was only getting better. One of those freakish wines that looks orange and cloudy and spends tons of time on the skins and no racking or anything like that. A nunnery is involved. Traditional secret recipe or something like that. The smell is so delicious, I really felt I would have been happy to smell the wine for an hour or two and never taste it. It was amazing. Wafting. Delicious. Seductive. Eventually, I did taste. Excellent grip. Tannins—in a white. Firm tannins. Excellent juicy fruit. Textured structure. Rich and refreshing. Dear heavenly powers, this wine is really, really good.

Wow, sounds like those nuns channeled all their sensuality into this.

[David M. Bueker]

Do they have a grail-shaped beacon?

Made with help from Paulo Bea's son. Found this store blurb:

Monastero Suore Cistercensi is a convent that produces one wine: Coenobium. This vino da tavola from Lazio has been christened (get it?) "the nun wine." Coenobium denotes a community of monks, and the wine is made by the sisters at the Cistercian monastery in Vitorchiano, north of Rome, with help from Montefalco vintner Giampiero Bea. The blend is made from organically grown Verdicchio, Trebbiano and Grechetto. A long soak on the grape skins helps transform these modest white varieties into an amazingly layered wine. Scents of rainy-day flowers, coriander and orange zest lead you to a richly textured mouthful, with sweet honeysuckle, minerality and a subtle tang.

Following up on my recent tastes of freakishly delicious wines . . .

2007 Monastero Suore Cistercensi Coenobium Rusticum Lazio [55 percent Trebbiano, 15 percent Verdicchio, 20 percent Malvasia, 10 percent Grechetto] (Lazio IGT, western central Italy) - I only had a glass of this, but, what a glass! And—the bottle had been opened for five days sealed only with the cork pushed back in and the owners said the wine was only getting better. One of those freakish wines that looks orange and cloudy and spends tons of time on the skins and no racking or anything like that. A nunnery is involved. Traditional secret recipe or something like that. The smell is so delicious, I really felt I would have been happy to smell the wine for an hour or two and never taste it. It was amazing. Wafting. Delicious. Seductive. Eventually, I did taste. Excellent grip. Tannins—in a white. Firm tannins. Excellent juicy fruit. Textured structure. Rich and refreshing. Dear heavenly powers, this wine is really, really good.

Keith, who imports this wine? I doubt that it is available in Kentucky, but I'll go looking for some from a fearless shipper or two. I would like to check out the importers web page though if there is one. Thanks.

Likewise, I doubt I'd find it in Tulsa, but I may look for it today.

What will those fun loving nuns get up to next?



The wine certainly sounds interesting, though I expect the chances of getting any up here are about zero.

Keith, who imports this wine?

Neal Rosenthal.

Keith, who imports this wine?

Neal Rosenthal.

Thank you Keith, I need to check with them and see where it is distributed near me. Thanks again. Oh, BTW have you had the lesser of the two\ wines the Nuns make. I refer to the one that doesn't have the word Rusticum in the name. And, thanks again.

Oh, BTW have you had the lesser of the two\ wines the Nuns make. I refer to the one that doesn't have the word Rusticum in the name.

I have not.

Orange? This one is as bianco as White Wonder! Where do you get the orange from, pray tell?

And now I've had the opportunity to taste the bianco version, with less time on the skins.

Impressive, delicious and unique . . .

2007 Monastero Suore Cistercensi Coenobium Lazio Bianco [55 percent Trebbiano, 20 percent Malvasia, 15 percent Verdicchio, 10 percent Grechetto] (Lazio IGT,western central Italy) cork closure, 13% - imported to USA by Rosenthal Wine Merchant, New York, New York - appears brilliant gold, smell big broad nose, tangerine and light easy citrus, blossoms as it opens (over days), more white flowers and coriander, taste thicker and sweeter at first, then salty and vibrant, lively flowers, coriander and spice, things really start picking up on day two, delicious spices and drinkability with a very memorable finish--15 minutes between sips as you do something else (in my case, packing) seems appropriate, sturdy and delicious, it went well with a variety of foods, but I preferred sampling it in small doses as I tottered around. This is a wine worth thinking about, find a comfortable seat, form a gentle fist under your chin, ponder and contemplate. There is a ton of yeast-like, spicy, floral elements combined with tangerine fruit which I enjoyed best with a lot of air, at room temperature and in small doses. The nuns are two for two--a uniquely expressive and interesting wine. Soli Deo Gloria