Rocca Di Frassinello Maremma Toscana 2014 (750ml)

 

Rated 93 Points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

 

Brooding and thick, the 2014 Maremma Toscana Rocca di Frassinello takes all the intensity of the vintage and pours it into the glass.  That's saying a lot because this vintage infamously lacked in intensity overall, although you'd never know it here.  Rocca di Frassinello makes good on the excellent environmental factors that contribute to this wine.  There is the sunshine of Coastal Tuscany, the light sea breezes and the reddish Maremma soils.  This Bordeaux blend born in Tuscany offers dark fruit aromas, savory spice and bitter chocolate.  The tannins are soft, but the wine does deliver solid structure to keep it firmly stitched together.

 

Rated 92 Points by James Suckling

 

Lots of chocolate and berry character here with hints of coffee.  Full and dense with polished tannins.  Lovely length too.  Drink or hold.

 

Rocca di Frassinello Maremma Toscana 2015

 

Wine Description

 

The top label, Rocca di Frassinello is the highest expression of this Italian-French project.  A wine able to mix strength, intensity and elegance with delicate tannins which express its fullness.  This wine was created from a collaboration between Christian Le Sommer, Enologist of Les Domaines Baron de Rothschild-Lafite, and Alessandro Cellai.

 

Winemaker Notes

 

Intense ruby red color.  Sweet red berries, roses and licorice are among the aromas and flavors that emerge from this great red.  Polish and supremely elegant personality.  Great structure with a pleasant long finish.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Intense ruby red color.  Sweet red berries, roses and licorice are among the aromas and flavors that emerge from this great red.  Polish and supremely elegant personality.  Great structure with a pleasant long finish.

 

Food Pairing

 

Ideal with long-cooked meat dish and barbecues.  Delicious with aged cheeses.

 

Vineyard & Production Information

 

Vineyard Appellation:  Maremma Toscana DOC

 

Soil Composition:  Schist soil and medium mixture rich on clay and skeleton

 

Training Method:  Spurred cordon

 

Elevation:  From 40 to 100 m a.s.l.

 

Vines / hectare:  5,800/Ha

 

Exposure:  West to East (Sangioveto); South (Cabernet Sauvignon)

 

Age:  15-16 years

 

Harvest Time:  September to Mid October

 

First Vintage:  2004

 

Production:  50,000 bottles

 

Winemaking & Aging

 

Varietal composition:  60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot

 

Fermentation Container:  Stainless steel tanks at 27° C for 15-20 days

 

Maceration Technique:  Frequent delestages and pumping over (20-25 days)

 

Type of aging container:  French barriques

 

Length of aging before bottle:  14 months

 

Length of bottle aging:  11 months

 

Alcohol:  14 %

 

 

Rocca di Frassinello Winery

 

       Producer Profile

 

Estate owned by:  Paolo Panerai

 

Winemaker:  Alessandro Cellai

 

Total acreage of vine:  186 (75 Ha)

 

Winery Production:  350, 000 bOTTLES

 

Looking to expand beyond the heavily saturated Chianti Classico area, Castellare turned to the natural outlet of Maremma. 

 

What started as a small expansion plan took on a new dimension, as a unique joint venture between Castellare and Domaines Barons de Rothschild-Lafite, the first partnership of its kind. 

 

The project couples Castellare’s experience in the growing and vinification of Sangioveto with Lafite’s experience in classic French varietals.

 

Extensive research led to a site selection in the hills formed by the two sides of the old Aurelia in Monteregio di Massa Marittima.

 

The first vineyards were planted on 17 acres in 2000; however, today, this successful project oversees almost 200 acres of vineyards in an unrivalled microclimate for native varietals.