Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The Merlot vineyard lies at 300 m above sea level on marine clay and has a south-western exposure. Frescobaldi planted its first Merlot vines in this unusual clay setting during the 1970s.
Grapes
Merlot.
Vinification
For the 2022 vintage, the grapes were carefully selected and picked by hand into crates. At the cellar, destemming was followed by manual sorting of the berries. Fermentation took place in steel tanks under controlled temperature.
Ageing
The 2022 matured for 21 months in French oak barriques, 80% of which were new, followed by further bottle ageing.
Tasting profile
Lamaione 2022 is an intense ruby red with purple highlights. The concentrated bouquet combines wild berries and cherries with toasted tertiary aromas of coffee bean and cocoa powder; fresh balsamic and liquorice notes emerge toward the finish. The palate is ample, decisive and intense. Its dense tannic weave remains soft and velvety, leading to an exceptionally long finish in which clear fruit is balanced by elegant balsamic tones.
Vintage notes
The 2022 season began with a cool, dry winter and normal budding. Rain during spring vegetative growth supported rapid, healthy development. Summer was dry and hot, although rainfall at the end of July and again on 15 August aided veraison. Sunny, dry and cool conditions followed, with marked night-time temperature variation allowing the fruit to complete ripening and accumulate substantial aromatic and polyphenolic potential.
Label / history
The experimental Merlot plantings made in the 1970s produced their first Lamaione in 1991. The wine is portrayed as a solitary, powerful and proud presence in the Montalcino landscape.