Italiano
Lupicaia, a Mediterranean champion
Eight important vintages of this renowned red, starting with the first and ending with the great 2016.
Owning something for 100 years is remarkable, especially if it is property that includes a hamlet complete with houses, a church, a recreation center, school, bakery, foundry, carpentry shop, kiln, windmill and so on. An authentic hamlet, Terriccio is home to over 100 people and until the 1970s it was a tenant farming reality.
Its modern reorganization was supervised by Gian Annibale Rossi di Medelana, the heir of the Ferri family that acquired the property in 1921. He decided he wanted to produce great wines and in the 1980s planted Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc) and brought in enologists who would go on to make a name for themselves: Carlo Ferrini for the red wines and Graziana Grassini and later Hans Terzer for the whites.
Castello del Terriccio is one of the largest estates in Tuscany with its 1,500 hectares of land, 60 of which are vineyards and 40 olive groves. It is located just north of Bolgheri and is run using the same labor force as always, the descendants of the families that have always lived in Terriccio, who love the land as if it was their own.
Following Gian Annibale’s death, the property passed to his nephew Vittorio Piozzi di Rosignano, who left his role of handling the family’s finances in order to focus his attention on its agricultural interests, of which Terriccio is the feather in the cap. He is committed to preserving the uniqueness of this estate and its wines, including the famous Lupicaia, which was the subject of a recent vertical tasting in Rome conducted by Daniele Cernilli.
Lupicaia 1993
93/100 – Not on the market
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. Matured for two years in French-oak barriques. A cool year, sufficiently balanced. First year of production.
A dark, very intact color. Scents of wild berries, blackcurrant, but above all notes of Mediterranean underbrush and medicinal herbs. The mouthfeel has an evident acidity, slightly rough at the start before disappearing in the concentration. Juicy and elegant, with licorice sensations in the finish.
Lupicaia 1995
97/100 - € 150,00
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. Matured for two years in French-oak barriques. A particular late year, almost without summer.
The color holds up very well. A very intense and perfectly intact aroma with balsamic notes of Mediterranean underbrush and eucalyptus, green olives, berries and an elegant spice component. The mouthfeel is energetic, creamy, very flavorful with lively tannins and a tight progression. A seductive wine with a silky finish.
Lupicaia 2001
91/100 - € 160,00
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. Matured for two years in French-oak barriques. A hot year.
A dark and compact color. The evolution of the aroma is more evident, the impact austere, with light notes of glutamate followed by scents of coffee and tobacco. The body is full but the tannins are quite evident as is the warmth. A rich wine, the product of its year.
Lupicaia 2006
95/100 – € 130,00
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. Matured for two years in French-oak barriques. A regular and balanced year.
A very dark and dense color. The nose is fresher, with a characteristic note of eucalyptus and Mediterranean brush, hints of spice and sandalwood and remaining fruit sensations. The dense mouthfeel has a nicely balanced acidity-tannin rapport and a long finish.
Lupicaia 2009
92/100 - € 125,00
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot. Matured 20-24 months in French-oak barriques and larger barrels. A cool year.
A dark and very lively color. The usual bouquet of wild berries and balsamic scents that are less evident. The mouthfeel is flavorful, sharper, with evident but excellent tannins. A nicely persistent aftertaste that recalls currant.
Lupicaia 2010
95/100 - € 150,00
90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. Merlot no longer in the blend. Matured 24 months in French-oak barrels. A constant yet hot year, very important.
A dark, ruby color. A broad and complex bouquet with a trio of pepper scents: black, green and white, along with the standard notes of eucalyptus, peat and those of fruit at the end. A good body with a nice acidity, while the richness of the flavor is upheld by thick tannins that extend into the warm and elegant finish.
Lupicaia 2012
94/100 - € 125,00
90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. Matured for 22 months in wood barrels. After a cold winter the summer was very hot.
A deep, ruby-red color. An austere, almost earthy aroma with classic notes of eucalyptus followed by those of graphite, blueberry and citron peel. The mouthfeel is very dense, rich, dominated by the tannins but not overbearingly so. A long, broad and persistent finish.
Lupicaia 2016
96/100 - € 120,00
90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. Matured for 24 months in wood barrels.
A dark and dense ruby color. A refined bouquet with classic scents of red fruit accompanied by soft notes of lavender with lovely balsamic ones of eucalyptus and hints of graphite. The mouthfeel stands out for its personality and elegance, fine and creamy tannins. A harmonious and balanced wine, flavorful and persistent, with a fascinating and explosive Mediterranean flair.
