Rocca di Frassinello : Baffonero 2020

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Baffonero 2020 from Rocca di Frassinello

Tasting notes

Appearance
Deep ruby in hue, this wine is enhanced by delicate violet highlights.

Nose
Highly intense, the bouquet reveals aromas of ripe dark fruits such as blackberry, blueberry and plum. With aeration, it develops complex notes of vanilla, cocoa, chocolate, tobacco and a subtle touch of coffee.

Palate
Powerful and structured, the palate offers a broad, robust texture, perfectly balanced by a lovely freshness. The tannins are velvety and elegant, leading to a remarkably persistent finish marked by fruity and spicy echoes.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine pairs wonderfully with full-flavoured meats, such as roast beef, braised meat stews or game such as wild boar in sauce. It also goes perfectly with mature cheeses with a powerful aromatic profile. With its complexity, it is also ideally suited to being enjoyed as a contemplative wine.

Serving and cellaring

To fully appreciate the Baffonero 2020, it is recommended to serve it between 16 and 18°C in a large-bowled glass, after adequate aeration. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve favourably until around 2028.

The Elegance and Power of a Merlot from Maremma Toscana

The estate

Born from an unprecedented joint venture between the Tuscan estate Castellare di Castellina and Domaines Barons de Rothschild-Lafite, Rocca di Frassinello had its winery officially inaugurated in 2007. Located in Tuscany, Italy, this 500-hectare estate, of which approximately 80 to 90 hectares are planted with vines, is now run by its owner, Paolo Panerai. The estate stands out for its architecture designed by Renzo Piano, its commitment to sustainability and its Etruscan documentation centre. It embodies the perfect alliance between Bordeaux expertise and Italian winemaking tradition.

The vineyard

Originating from the Maremma Toscana, the Baffonero plot stretches out at the foot of the estate's winery. Enjoying an ideal exposure, this terroir consists of clay-schist soils offering excellent drainage. The vines benefit from constant ventilation thanks to sea breezes and the Maestrale wind, promoting slow and balanced ripening of the grapes. The vineyard is managed with great precision, favouring hand harvesting and environmentally friendly practices, such as the use of cover crops.

Vinification and ageing

The grapes destined for the Baffonero 2020 are carefully hand-harvested and hand-sorted. In a winery designed to operate by gravity, fermentation takes place under controlled temperature in inert tanks. The wine is then aged for fourteen months in French oak barrels, the vast majority of them new, in an underground cellar. Finally, it rests for a further twelve months in bottle before release.

Grape variety

100% Merlot