Dark, verging on black, with brilliant hue. The nose is intense and concentrated on ripe notes of blackcurrant and blackberry and touches of balsamic and eucalyptus. The front palate is massive, the mid palate structured and full of sweet flavours. This intense structure extends into the finish with tannins of great quality and maturity. This wine, with its great consistency, often gets three glasses in the Gambero Rosso guide.

Attributes

Origin:	Italy / Toscana / Montescudaio
Grape variety:	Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Label:	Vegan
Ripening potential:	5 to 20 years after harvest
Drinking temperature:	16 to 18 °C
Food Pairing:	Brasato di manzo al Barolo, Fegato alla veneziana, Spicy hard cheese, Mushroom ragout
Vinification:	long must fermentation
Harvest:	hand-picking
Maturation:	in new barriques
Bottling:	no filtration
Maturation duration:	18 months
Volume:	14.5 %
Note:	Contains sulphites

Producer

Castello del Terriccio

Castello del Terriccio is one of the largest agricultural estates in Tuscany (Province of Pisa) with its own microclimate. The approximately 1700 hectares extend from the northern end of the Maremma to the Tyrrhenian Sea. The vineyards enjoy a south-southwest exposure with the warming and luminous effect of the sea. The Mediterranean maquis and the eucalyptus trees growing all around it not only protect the grapes from the wind, but also imbue them with the scents and aromas that give the wines of the Terriccio their distinctive flavour.

Leaving the charming Tuscan town of Castellina Marittima via the narrow and picturesque serpentine road passing large pine trees and wonderful scenery, after a few kilometres you reach the gates of the splendid Castello del Terriccio estate. After the entrance, a private road leads up to the vineyard. On the way there, the gently rolling hills of the Maremma pass you by: forests, fields with Limousine cattle and horses, vineyards and of course olive groves. Situated at the top of a hill is the centre of the Castello, with a historic village centre, manor house, granary, wine cellar, olive press, and, of course, the obligatory church. The view of the seemingly infinite landscape and the dark blue Tyrrhenian Sea with the islands of Elba, Capraia, and Corsica is of a breathtaking, rare beauty. Castello del Terriccio is located north of Bolgheri in the Province of Pisa within the Maremma. With its impressive 1700 hectares, including 65 hectares of vineyards, it is one of the largest private estates in Tuscany.

Grape variety

Petit Verdot

Bordeaux’s secret weapon

It is commonly said that the Petit Verdot originated in Bordeaux. But genetically, it is closer to a group of vines from near the Pyrenees, which are most likely descended from wild clematis. In French, these wild plants are called “lambrusques”, and the Petit Verdot is also known under the synonym Lumbrusquet. It is a high quality grape: very dark and spicy with notes of cassis and graphite, plenty of robust tannins and strong acidity. Most major Bordeaux contain a small proportion of Petit Verdot. Appropriately, it is valued wherever wines are produced according to the Bordeaux recipe. For example, in Italian Maremma or in California, where it covers the largest area worldwide. It is almost never vinified purely by itself. Incidentally, its name, derived from “vert”, meaning green, alludes to its Achilles heel: in cool weather it tends to form small, seedless green grapes.

Merlot

Everybody’s darling

Merlot is the most charming member of the Bordeaux family. It shines with rich colour, fragrant fullness, velvety tannins and sweet, plummy fruit. It even makes itself easy for the vintner, as it matures without issue in cool years as well. This is in contrast to the stricter Cabernet Sauvignon, which it complements as a blending partner. Its good qualities have made the Merlot famous worldwide. At over 100,000 hectares, it is the most-planted grape in France. It also covers large areas in California, Italy, Australia and recently in Eastern Europe. The only catch is that pure Merlot varieties rarely turn out well. Its charm is often associated with a lack of substance. Only the best specimens improve with maturity. They then develop complex notes of leather and truffles. This succeeds in the top wines from the Bordeaux appellation of Pomerol and those from Ticino, among others.

Cabernet Sauvignon

The backbone of Bordeaux

The Cabernet Sauvignon gives the Bordeaux its backbone, yielding deep violet wines with powerful tannins and endless ripening potential. It is the top dog in Médoc, and is placed in all five premier crus of Bordelais. When young, it often appears strict and unapproachable, but with advancing years, its tannins round off. It is wonderfully velvety, and yet always maintains its freshness. Typical flavours include cassis, graphite and cedar. Wherever Cabernet Sauvignon is found, Merlot is not far away. It complements the robust structure of Cabernet with softness, fruit and richness. The Cabernet Sauvignon is the most-exported vine in the world. It delivers persuasive qualities in Italy as an ingredient of the Super Tuscan, or as the flagship variety from California. There, it is lovingly titled “Cab Sauv”. Meat fans should be aware that it fantastically accompanies a grilled entrecôte. The family tree of Cabernet Sauvignon is surprising: its parents are Cabernet Franc and the white Sauvignon blanc.

Country

Italy

Italy – Where wine is a way of life

The Italian wine regions are extremely diverse, and this is made clear in their wines. Established varieties such as Merlot, Syrah, and Sauvignon can be found on just 15 percent of the total vine growing area. The remaining 85 percent is reserved for autochthonous, indigenous varieties. More than 2,000 different grape varieties are grown under diverse conditions and pressed with various techniques into wines that reach the top tier of the international wine market.

Rating

Parker 94+ Points

Wine Spectator 93 Points

Gambero Rosso 3 Bicchieri