Rocca di Frassinello : Ornello 2022

Characteristics and tasting advice for Ornello 2022 from Rocca di Frassinello

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays an intense ruby-red colour.

Nose

The nose opens with balsamic notes and roasted coffee, accompanied by subtle undergrowth fragrances.

Palate

On the palate, the wine reveals a velvety texture carried by supple, silky tannins. Woody undergrowth aromas linger through to the finish.

Food and wine pairings

This red wine from Maremma Toscana is an ideal match for roasted meats, a selection of fine cured meats, as well as moderately aged hard cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Ornello 2022 can be enjoyed now to appreciate the freshness of its fruit and the suppleness of its tannins.

A smooth Tuscan red wine with lovely freshness

The estate

Rocca di Frassinello was born in the early 2000s from the alliance between Paolo Panerai, owner of Castellare di Castellina, and Baron Éric de Rothschild of Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite. Located in Gavorrano in Tuscany, in the Maremma between Bolgheri and Scansano, the estate covers 500 hectares, including 90 hectares of vines. In 2001, architect Renzo Piano designed an iconic winery featuring gravity-flow winemaking. The vineyard harmoniously blends Italian and French grape varieties. The estate also stands out for its location on an Etruscan necropolis, bearing witness to 3,000 years of winegrowing history.

The vineyard

The vines of Ornello are planted in Gavorrano, at 90 metres above sea level, on moderately rich, stony soils. The vineyard of Maremma Toscana benefits from controlled yields to favour concentration and grape quality.

The vintage

The year 2022 in Tuscany began with a cold winter that delayed budburst. The warm spring helped make up for this vegetative lag. Summer was marked by high temperatures and pronounced drought. Sporadic rainfall arrived at the end of August, ensuring perfect berry ripeness before harvest.

Vinification and ageing

The Ornello 2022 harvest ran from late August for the merlot to mid-September for the sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon. Vinification takes place in stainless-steel tanks. The wine is then aged for 6 months in barrels, 50% of which are new oak, followed by a further 5 months’ ageing in bottle before release.

Grape varieties

Sangiovese (40%), cabernet sauvignon (20%), merlot (20%), syrah (20%).