Castello del Terriccio
Tassinaia 2022
| Denomination | IGT Toscana |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.0% by volume |
| Area | Tuscany (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot |
| Aging | In Allier barriques, partly in second use, for 14–16 months; then blended and further refined in bottle before release. |
- Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot, Toscana IGT 2022
- Aromatic profile: morello cherry, wild berries, sweet spices, vanilla and a mineral note
- Ageing: 14–16 months in Allier oak barriques, followed by bottle maturation
- Taste: full-bodied structure, refined tannins, savoury and lingering finish
- Pairings: grilled red meats, game and mature cheeses
Description
What kind of wine it is
Tassinaia from Castello del Terriccio is a Tuscan red wine born from a balanced blend of grapes Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The sensory profile is structured, supported by elegant tannins that define a precise gustatory architecture. The palate offers a fresh and savoury character, finishing with great persistence. On the nose, it expresses aromas of morello cherry, wild berries and sweet spices, followed by hints of vanilla, echoes of Mediterranean scrub and a clear mineral texture.
Where it comes from
The vineyards stretch across the Tuscan Maremma near Castellina Marittima, at an altitude between 100 and 300 metres above sea level. The vines benefit from excellent south and south-west exposure and are cultivated using the spurred cordon method. The soil features composite morphologies with a significant presence of stones and fossils, elements that impart freshness and savouriness. This geological composition inspires the name Tassinaia, which means "place of stones", a clear reference to the local stony subsoil.
How it is produced
The manual harvest begins in September, starting with the Merlot and finishing with the Cabernet Sauvignon. After gentle crushing and destemming, fermentation takes place in stainless steel at a controlled temperature, accompanied by pumping over and délestage. This is followed by a maceration phase, essential for extracting colour and tannins in a rigorous manner. The wine matures separately in Allier barrels, partly second passage, for a period of 14-16 months. Finally, the batches are blended to rest further in the bottle before release.
History and Curiosities
Tassinaia 2022 takes its name from the historic vineyards of Castello del Terriccio: a true “place of stones” whose stony subsoil gives the wine its unmistakable mineral elegance. Born in the Tuscan Maremma under the expert guidance of oenologist Carlo Ferrini, this majestic red guarantees a longevity of 10-15 years. The estate’s absolute excellence, founded in 1921, is confirmed by top-level awards, including the prestigious 3 Bicchieri Gambero Rosso, 5 Grappoli Bibenda and an impressive 94 points from James Suckling.
Awards
-
2022
2This guide is highly respected and offers the most comprehensive review of Italian wines. It has a long tradition and is based on blind tastings carried out by over 100 experts.
-
2022
94/100
James Suckling is an influential American wine critic and journalist who worked at Wine Spectator for 30 years. He left the magazine in 2010 to start his own website and guidebook (JamesSuckling.com). He specialises in Italian and Bordeaux wines.
-
2022
3One of the most prestigious wine guides in Italy.
Tasting notes
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
16 - 18 °C
Longevity:
10 - 15 years
Decanting time:
1 hour
- Start up year: 1921
- Oenologist: Carlo Ferrini
- Bottles produced: 200.000
- Hectares: 50
The estate traces its roots back to the Etruscan era, when its strategic seaside location proved to be an ideal place from which to keep watch for pirates heading toward the coast. The ruins of the Terriccio castle, still visible, date to this era. The estate's real history, however, begins in the 13th century, when the Pope acquired it on behalf of the noble Gaetani family, who controlled it for 500 years, creating a successful farm and building the farmhouses and cellar that still stand today. In the late 1700s, the Gaetanis sold the estate to a Polish prince, who in turn sold it to the family of the present owner (Dr. Gian Annibale Rossi di Medelana Serafini Ferri) in 1921. In 1979, Serafini Ferri suffered a serious horseback riding accident that left him in a wheelchair, and he began to focus on the estate's potential as a winery. High quality winemaking began in the late 1980s andd early 1990s, when varieties like Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc were planted with great success.
The dense, powerful reds and tantalizing whites made here have found favor in the international wine community and are praised for being pure reflections of their terroir. They are often described with words like "superlative", "tremendous", "splendid" and "luscious". Castello Terriccio's most iconic wine is the renowned super Tuscan Lupicaia, grown in limestone soil in an area once known as the wolves' favorite hunting ground. This Cabernet Sauvignon blend melds lusciously rich fruit with spicy balsamic notes. Also wonderful is the Castello del Terriccio, a complex wine with a striking ruby tone, herb-like aromas that blend with spicy notes of liquorice and cinnamon, and great depth. The estate's white wines are known for being unabashedly expressive, clean creations. Harvest for all wines is done by hand across the estate's 50 hectares of vineyards. Yields are kept low (no more than 900g per vine) to ensure concentrated fruit and better-structured wines. Read more
| Name | Castello del Terriccio Tassinaia 2022 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red still |
| Denomination | Toscana IGT |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.0% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Tuscany |
| Vendor | Castello del Terriccio |
| Story | History and Curiosities Tassinaia 2022 takes its name from the historic vineyards of Castello del Terriccio: a true "place of stones" whose stony subsoil gives the wine its unmistakable mineral elegance. Born in the Tuscan Maremma under the expert guidance of oenologist Carlo Ferrini, this majestic red guarantees a longevity of 10 5 years. The estate’s absolute excellence, founded in 1921, is confirmed by top-level awards, including the prestigious 3 Bicchieri Gambero Rosso, 5 Grappoli Bibenda and an impressive 94 points from James Suckling. |
| Origin | Loc. Terriccio - Castellina Marittima (PI) |
| Soil composition | Morfologie varie e composite con forte presenza di pietre e fossili |
| Plants per hectare | 5600 |
| Harvest | Manual harvest: Merlot from the second week of September, Sangiovese from the third week, and Cabernet Sauvignon from the fourth week of September. |
| Fermentation temperature | Circa 30 °C |
| Fermentation | One week |
| Production technique | Extremely gentle destemming and crushing; fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature with pumping over and délestage; maceration; ageing in Allier barriques followed by further ageing in bottle |
| Wine making | Extremely gentle crushing and destemming. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature (around 30°C) with pumping over and délestage; maceration for about 9–12 days for Merlot and 12–15 days for Cabernet. |
| Aging | In Allier barriques, partly in second use, for 14–16 months; then blended and further refined in bottle before release. |
| Total acidity | 5.2 gr/L |
| Year production | 200000 bottles |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |