Rocca di Frassinello Ornello 2021

Created in honor of the ‘butteri’, who remain the symbol of the Maremma region, strong and elegant at the same time. The Ornello (from the name of the wood – manna ash), is a long, pointed stick that is still used today for driving cattle. This wine stands out for its use of Syrah grapes that make this wine very full and rich, in addition to the native Sangiovese, and the Bordelais Cabernet and Merlot. It exemplifies the typical elegance and boldness of Rocca di Frassinello wines.

Made of 40% Sangioveto, 20% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, this has an intense ruby ​​red color. The nose shows balsamic and roasted coffee notes. On the palate there are notes of undergrowth and a soft and velvety tannin. It goes well with meat dishes, including important roasts, cured meats and medium-aged cheeses.   

The Rocca di Frassinello project was inspired by a very simple idea – to replicate the model of excellence set in motion by the Castellare di Castellina winery in a new region. The founders set their sights on the central Maremma area, between Bolgheri and Scansano, where a sort of geological foot can be found, with the same characteristics as the Chianti and Montalcino terrains in Tuscany (of which this foot is in fact a kind of extension towards the sea). Land, therefore, similar to Tuscany’s most famous wine regions, but with one important difference: an average temperature 4 to 5 and even 6 °C higher, with grapes therefore characterized by the ability to ripen even three to four weeks earlier. 

This area, so incredibly well suited for cultivating grapes is part of the Gavorrano and Roccastrada municipalities. It is indeed here where the first – and so far only one of its kind – French-Italian joint venture project for the production of wine took shape. The agreement between Castellare and Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), leading French wine brand in the world, aimed from the very beginning to bring together the experience of Castellare in the cultivation and vinification of Tuscany’s main vine variety, the famous Sangioveto, with Lafite’s long standing know-how of classical French vines like Cabernet, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Shiraz. It took two years to bring together the five small farms that make up the 500 hectares of the Rocca di Frassinello, a continuing project which today already sees close to 90 hectares of planted vineyards. This already extremely ambitious venture has been further enriched by marking and pairing the birth of the Rocca di Frassinello winery with one of the most prestigious names in the world of design and architecture: that of Renzo Piano.