Rocca di Frassinello

Brand Description

Inaugurated in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma on June 30, 2007, the Rocca di Frassinello winery was born as a joint  venture between Castellare di Castellina and Domaines Barons de Rothschild-Château Lafite, an unmistakable name in  the greatest wines of France and of the world. A project in the center of Maremma, between Bolgheri and Montalcino,  that  benefits  from  the  dually  celebrated  oenological  experience  of  both  partners.  In  this  area  the  vine  has historically flourished for about 3 thousand years since the time of the Etruscans, who cultivated it by utilizing surrounding trees as a support for the vines. 

Location of Vineyard

Paolo  Panerai  and  Barone  Eric  de Rothschild  specifically  selected the  hill  in front  of the town  of Giuncarico,  in the  municipality of Gavorrano, as the ideal place to cultivate vineyards. Here a constant breeze is channelled from the sea,  wicking moisture and moderating the climate both in winter and summer. It took two years to unite the five plots that  make  up  the  estate’s  500  hectares,  of  which  83  are  planted  to  vine.  With  conscious  attention  to  environmental sustainability, the attentive project preserved forests inside the property boundaries encouraging biodiversity. Vineyards of  Sangioveto  (a  specific  Sangiovese  clone  selected  at  Castellare  that  represents  50%  of  total  hectares),  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,  Syrah  and Vermentino  give  birth to wines that  combine the  best  of  Italy  and  France.  To  further validate the international ambitions of the estate, architect Renzo Piano signed the project of the cellar: an elegant and highly functional building on the highest hill of the amphitheater of Rocca di Frassinello. 

Winemaking and Viticulture Philosophy

“A great wine, before the cellar, is constructed in the vineyard”.

So is convinced Alessandro Cellai, Head Oenologist of Rocca di Frassinello and Executive Vice President of Domini Castellare di Castellina. “A winemaker’s signature on a wine is made of small, great interventions. It is crucial to be present in the moment to know just when to harvest. Then in the cellar it is essential to succeed in enhancing the quality of the grapes, but a good 70% of the work has already been done. The most important step, in fact, is the initial phase in the vineyard, before the wine becomes wine”.

Rocca di Frassinello - vineyard
Paolo Panerai (Owner)
Rocca di Frassinello - gamma vini_Ph - Alexandra Romani
Rocca di Frassinello - vigneti e struttura
Rocca di Frassinello - La Foresteria
Rocca di Frassinello

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Winery Profile
Owner: Paolo Panerai
Winemaker: Alessandro Cellai
Total acreage under vine: 85 Hectares
Founded: 2007
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Acclaim
“Aromas of ripe blackcurrants, dark cherries and hints of chocolate, cloves and cedar. Some wet earth. Medium-to full-bodied, a little tight and cedary, with juicy dark fruit underneath.” — acclaim for 2020 Rocca di Frassinello San Germano from James Suckling, Aug 2024
“Ripe dark and blue fruit, blue flowers, candied orange peel and spices on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied, smooth and succulent, slightly jammy but well-formed and focused, with a seamless tannin structure.” — acclaim for 2022 Rocca di Frassinello Poggio alla Guardia from James Suckling, Aug 2024
“Aromas of ripe dark berries, plum skin and blueberry jam with hints of blue flowers, dried orange, spices and cedar. Juicy and tense on the palate, with firm tannins and impressive fruit concentration. Succulent and easy to drink.” — acclaim for 2022 Le Sughere di Frassinello from James Suckling, Aug 2024
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