Castello Del Terriccio Table
Fascinating vertical tasting today with the wines of Castello Del Terriccio. This included their flagship wine of the same name, and their Lupicaia brand, which launched in 1993.
The Castello Del Terriccio estate dates from the 13th century. But it’s been in the last few hundred years that the winery has made a grand name for itself for its fine “Super Tuscan” style wines.
Jeff Porter
Jeff Porter, well-known sommelier and wine educator, led a fantastic seminar followed by vertical tasting of both the flagship wine and the Lupicaia wines.
About Castello Del Terriccio
This family-owned winery is one of the largest in Tuscany.
When Lupicaia first launched in 1993, more Merlot was used in the blend.
But with climate change, the two grapes used are Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, the exact amounts depending on the seasons.
Castello Del Terriccio is primarily made from varying proportions of Syrah and Petit Verdot.
According to Jeff Porter, both Tuscany and California’s Napa Valley are places where Petit Verdot shows the best expression.
Though the vineyard sites and grape varieties differ, the two wines mature in much the same way, spending 118 – 24 months in tonneau.
The Family
According to Jeff Porter and the winery’s export manager, the winery operates much the same way it did in the previous century.
The new generation is expected to take on various positions in the company so they are familiar with how the various departments work.
The Etruscan Influence
While working the vineyards, an ancient Etruscan artifact was found. The artifact, representing a sun, is now the icon on Castello Del Terriccio bottles of wine.
The Vertical Tasting
Four wines from Castello Del Terriccio and four wines from Lupicaia were compared side by side.
The vintages chosen were 2017, 2016 (considered a fantastic year), 2010, and 2006.
It was amazing how these wines withstood the test of time, especially the 2006 which is nearly 20 years old.
Across all wines, the acidity was very fresh and the concentration of ripe fruit excellent.
The texture of the tannins varied between the Lupicaia
the Castello Del Terriccio, with the flagship wine characterized by a denser texture.
The Lunch
Café des Artistes acted as the perfect venue for this tasting, providing excellent glasses, well-trained charming servers, and delicious cuisine.
The executive chef took excellent care in finding dishes (prime rib was the main) to match the multitude of flavors in the dish.
Final Thoughts
It was interesting to see the different expressions of these two wines from the same winery. Also, how this terroir leads to wines with such proven evidence of long life.
