“VIVA VERMENTINO” MONICA LARNER – THE WINE ADVOCATE IMPRESSED BY ROCCA DI FRASSINELLO BIANCO
Monica Larner wowed by the Tuscan Maremma Vermentino. In her report focused on the wines of the DOC, the authoritative critic of The Wine Advocate-Robert Parker revealed that she was surprised by the wines made with the most popular white grape variety of this part of Tuscany.
During her visit, organized by the Maremma Toscana Consortium, Larner tasted a selection of references including Rocca di Frassinello Bianco 2020, our new Gran Cru made with the best Vermentino grapes of the estate, which in its debut was awarded by the wine critic with 94 points. A great result given that the highest score attributed by Robert Parker to a Vermentino wine (including those from Sardinia and Bolgheri), before the tasting of the Maremma Toscana DOC, was 93+.
In her review, Monica Larner defined our Rocca di Frassinello Bianco “a terrific expression of Vermentino that shows the potential and versatility of this grape. In fact, this wine is a candidate for the Superiore category if and when it is created by appellation authorities”. During the tasting, she revealed notes of bergamot, preserved lemon, crushed shell and soft herbs. “There is salinity and sweetness – she writes – and the mouthfeel is lightly creamy and rich thanks to malolactic fermentation”.
Rocca di Frassinello Bianco is the best expression of a 100% Vermentino long-ageing white wine, a vine that, thanks to the unique characteristics of soils with a significant presence of calcareous marl and marl skeleton, combined with the benefits of the breeze coming from the nearby sea, finds an ideal terroir in Rocca di Frassinello. The best bunches, carefully selected and harvested strictly by hand, and 10 months of permanence on the lees, allow to obtain a white wine of great structure, with a full and silky sip, rich in floral aromas, citrus notes and with a mineral component which gives flavor in the finish. A harmonious and persistent white but also very versatile, which goes well with grilled fish, shellfish and white meats.
During her visit, Monica Larner also tasted the Maremma Toscana DOC top red wines, including Baffonero 2018, our 100% Merlot which was awarded with 94 points. “The wine is impeccably made – she writes in her review – with lots of dark cherry, cedar wood and smoky mahogany. With 15% alcohol, it has embraced the sunshine along the Tuscan Coast”. Monica Larner knows Baffonero well, having been the first wine critic to discover it when she awarded to the 2008 vintage (at that time she was the Italian Editor for Wine Enthusiast) a score of 95, placing it in the “Top 100 Cellar Selections”.
Baffonero takes its name from a 3.5 ha vineyard with perfect exposure and medium-clayey soil, very rich in skeleton. Here the Merlot clones from Château Lafite, partner of the joint venture with Castellare di Castellina, the historic Chianti Classico winery that founded Rocca di Frassinello, were planted. Baffonero is inspired by a Maremma history that evokes the wild boar hunts typical of the area. Baffonero, in fact, was the nickname of the huntsman famous for his thick black mustache. Today, this award-winning wine much loved by enthusiasts, tells not only these stories, but also the power and elegance of a unique land like the Maremma.
Read the full article by Monica Larner published on www.robertparker.com
Tags: Monica Larner, Robert Parker The Wine Advocate, Rocca di Frassinello, Rocca di Frassinello Bianco, Vermentino