Fattoria San Lorenzo is a pioneering natural producer in the Marche, a benchmark for age-worthy whites in the region. Third-generation Natalino Crogaletti produces a full range of biodynamically famed wines, from a delicious entry-level white and reds to wines of incredible depth, with much longer ageing on the lees.  San Lorenzo is perhaps best known for their iconic Verdicchio “Il San Lorenzo,” which spends about nine years on the lees in concrete and stainless steel before being bottled.

The estate was founded by Natalino’s grandfather, Enrico Crognaletti, who was a master cooper. The estate then passed from Enrico to Natalio’s father, Gino, after whom the two entry-level wines are named. Enrico dedicated himself to the vineyards and to identifying and isolating the best old clones from their oldest vines, which were planted in the 1960’s, to use for replanting their vineyards.

The estate is made up of 35 hectares of Vineyards in the areas around the winery in Montecarotto (including Ostra, Ostra Vetere, and Corinaldo). The vineyards are all farmed biodynamically. The Le Oche, meaning “the geese,” is a link to the numerous animals they have at the farm – geese, ducks, and chickens – who roam the vineyards helping create an ideal multi-faceted biodynamic farm.

Soils here are rich in clay and limestone, which gives the wines both density and a cutting minerality. They are wines that often need extra time in the bottle to show their best, which is why Natalino holds back many of the top bottlings in the cellar before release. In addition to his lineup of Verdicchio, Natalino makes a range of great red wines, which are mostly Montepulciano and Sangiovese blends.  In the past, they were labelled as Rosso Piceno. He also makes a red from the Lacrima grape, as well as a pure Montepulciano bottling, and lastly, the Il San Lorenzo Rosso, made 100% from Syrah.

While the wines in the past were labelled as Vedicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Natalino has decided to forgo the appellation, allowing him more freedom to make the wines in the style he prefers rather than being restricted by what the DOCG board feels is typical. The whites all fall within the Castello di Jesi boundaries, though, whereas the reds are predominantly in the Rosso Piceno appellation.

The estate makes a range of different Verdicchio expressions from the entry-level Di Gino bottling, aged six months on the lees, to the Le Ocche bottling, which ages for twelve months on the lees. All fermentations occur in concrete vats spontaneously with indigenous yeast, and all wines are unfined and unfiltered.

These wines are full of character and offer tremendous value. Like many of our other white wine producers, these wines have both immediate appeal and great potential for aging in the cellar. We are proud to have them in our portfolio!