Pomino Bianco, Frescobaldi 2025 75cl
Pomino is Tuscany's odd one out. Up in the hills east of Florence, at altitudes reaching 700 metres, this is a corner of Tuscany built for whites rather than Sangiovese, and Frescobaldi have farmed it for generations.
The 2025 is 90% Chardonnay with 10% Pinot Bianco, and the height matters: cool nights and a long growing season hold onto acidity that most of Tuscany simply can't manage. The Frescobaldi family have owned Castello di Pomino since the late 1800s, and this white is their calling card for the estate, a wine of freshness rather than power.
The colour is a bright, vibrant straw. On the nose there's citrus and white flowers, green apple and pear, with a gentle creamy, toasted edge from a light touch of oak. The palate is fresh, savoury and distinctly mineral, finishing clean with a faint note of ripe raspberry that gives it charm.
This is an everyday white that punches above its weight. At under £20 it's a reliable aperitif and an easy match at the table, the kind of bottle you keep in the fridge without ceremony. Drink it young, within a year or two, while that alpine freshness is at its brightest.
How to Serve
Serve well chilled at 7-10°C in a standard white-wine glass. No decanting needed; this is a wine that rewards being poured and enjoyed straight away.
Where to Drink It
The River Cafe with a plate of grilled fish. Planque in Haggerston for something low-key and delicious. Bentley's at the oyster bar.
Food Pairings
Lovely with grilled sea bass and lemon, or a simple risotto primavera. It also handles a plate of prosciutto and melon with ease.
