Today we share one of the greats of Tuscany’s Maremma region, Castello del Terriccio. This is one of the largest wine estates in the area (1500+ hectares, 60 under vine), with Etruscan roots and a viticultural history that dates back a thousand years. In the 1990s, Gian Annibale Rossi di Medelana changed this property, bringing innovation to the vineyards and cellar while honoring Bolgheri’s winemaking traditions and its unique terroir, rich in minerals, copper and iron.
Today, the estate is overseen by Vittorio Piozzo di Rosignano Rossi di Medelana, the only nephew of the late Gian Annibale, who works in partnership with longtime enologist Carlo Ferrini to uphold his uncle’s vision and the cult-like status these wines have maintained since rising to prominence during the Super Tuscan craze of the 1990s.
The wines were world-class. Check out the stunning 2019 Lupiacia Red Wine (OB, 96) which is dense, heady and viscous with gobs of tension and refined tannins.
2021 Castello del Terriccio ‘Tassinaia’ Red Wine- The 2021 Tassinaia combines equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Cedar and red currants mark the nose alongside shades of damp, rocky soils. The palate is fresh and beautifully-textured, with serious tension and salty/rocky nuances. A joy to enjoy now, with plenty of savory herbs and dense dark fruits, framed by firm tannins, give this about 30 minutes of air before savoring. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2019 Castello del Terriccio ‘Lupicaia’ Red Wine- Inky in the glass, the 2019 Lupiacaia is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based beauty with 10% Petit Verdot blended in. It is sturdy and silky throughout the drinking experience. Tar, menthol and sandalwood notes all combine on the palate, with shades of black licorice and creme de violette. This is complex, heady Cabernet that has several decades of life in front of it. Drink 2025-2043- 96
