Fossacolle Rosso Di Toscana Riesci 2019 (750ml)

 

Rated 92 Points by The Wine Advocate

 

I love the sleek retro label design on the Fossacolle 2019 Riesci.  This blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Petit Verdot and 20% Merlot is a terrific and easygoing wine, with massive drinking appeal.  This 2019 expression shows much better results than we've seen in past editions, and I notice that the blend of grapes has changed over the years to include more Cabernet Sauvignon and exclude Sangiovese.  This is a universally food-friendly wine that could cozy up to a veggie burger or a grilled steak, depending on your culinary outlook.  The wine is redolent of dark fruit and blackberry, and there are plenty of rich plummy tones that segue to dark spice, mesquite and a touch of smoked cedar.  I suggest drinking any bottles of this 3,600-bottle release young, to take advantage of that pretty intensity Stefano Bambagioni and the folks at Fossacolle decided not to make Rosso di Montalcino in 2017 because yields had been greatly reduced by the hail and heat stress of the vintage.  This allowed for greater control and fruit selection when making the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino reviewed here.

 

Fossacolle Rosso Di Toscana Riesci 2019

 

Behind Riesci,there is a challenge to find a way to produce a balanced and equilibrated wine with a high percent of petit verdot grape so, in 2004 they decided to start his own “French style blend” with a high percent of petite verdot.  Over the years, they have pushed the quality of the wine and the selection of grapes to a very high point keeping the production low, in terms of bottles for a very exclusive wine.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Red ruby red, with an expressive and complex nose bouquet, with black and red small fruit.  Good and equilibrated structure with firm tannins and a nice acidity.

 

Food Pairings

 

Game and red meat, but also strong cheeses and even by itself.

 

Winemaking & Aging

 

Varietal Composition:  40% Petit Verdot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot

 

Fermentation Container:  Stainless Steel Tanks

 

Maceration Technique:  Daily pumping and some delestages

 

Type of aging container:  French Oak

 

Length of aging: 12 Months

 

Length of bottle aging:  6-9 Months

 

Vineyard & Production Information

 

Vineyard Location:  Montalcino

 

Soil Composition:  Mixed Clay and Stones.

 

Training Method:  Spurred Cordon

 

Elevation:  270 m a.s.l.

 

Vines/hectare:  1 Hectare

 

Exposure:  West, South West

 

Vine Age:  Different Years

 

Harvest Time:  Half, Late September

 

First Vintage:  2004

 

Production:  2,500 Bottles

 

Region:  Tuscany

 

Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Super Tuscans from Bolgheri are some of the world’s most famous wines and are adored by collectors, and they all hail from the gorgeous region of Tuscany.

 

 

Fossacolle

 

         Producer Profile

 

Estate owned by:  Sergio Marchetti

 

Winemaker:  Adriano Bambagioni

 

Total acreage of wine:  6 (4 Ha)

 

Winery Production:  22,000 Bottles

 

Region:  Tuscany

 

Owner Sergio Marchetti belongs to an old patriarchal family of the 18th century.  The family’s descendants have lived and farmed on this land for generations. 

 

In the 1980s, the owner of the lands gifted Fossacolle to the family when he sold the properties.  Fossacolle is four hectares of vineyards in the medieval town of Tavernelle in southern Montalcino. 

 

This area benefits from the wind of nearby Maremma which creates a perfect climate to grow and to mature grapes.  Sergio and his family manage the vineyards and his son-in-law, Adriano Bambagioni, with the help of his son Stefano, carry out all the enological and commercial aspects of Fossacolle.