Grape blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Aged: 24 months in Barriques
Alcohol content: 15% vol
Acidity: 4.97 g/l
Residual sugars: 0.8 g/l
High on a hillside, small, tenacious as the “rock” on which they are planted, the Casalduro vineyards produce a special wine, a red with a rich bouquet but a simple soul, which is aged at length (and perfect for even longer ageing). The 2020 season was characterised by a hot, dry summer. The Merlot and Cabernet – with their small grapes and bunches – were protected from the sun’s rays by the shoots of the vines until almost ripe. The grape musts fermented and macerated slowly and separately (19 days for the Merlot, 20 for the Cabernet). After 24 months of ageing in barriques, the base wines were “assembled” in concrete tanks, where the wine then remained for another 2-3 months to favour the perfect fusion of the blend. After bottling, the Casal Duro stayed in the cellar for a further year in order to express its potential to the full.
Tasting – Colour: blood red, opalescent. The nose: an explosion of aromas, from blackberry to vanilla, from spicy fragrances to notes of tobacco and a slight hint of red bell pepper. In the mouth: important and big, with a dense, rich weave of tannins; initially astringent and nervy, it mellows during the numerous years of ageing.
Wine and Food Pairing – It’s a great companion for Tuscan fare (even traditional Sunday lunches!)... from pappardelle with wild boar sauce, to polenta with porcini mushrooms, from Tuscan “peposo” (a tasty stew from the Valdarno area), to lasagne with mixed mushrooms and pecorino. It’s also excellent with mature cheeses.
Awards – Gold Medal and Special Mention Coup de Coeur for the 2020 vintage at the Concours Mondial des Féminalise 2024, Beaune, France – Gold Medal for the 2020 vintage at the Mundus Vini Spring Tasting 2024, Neustadt, Germany.