Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The fruit comes from the estate’s northernmost vineyards near Ficulle. Here the interaction of altitude, exposure and microclimate with medium-textured clay-sandy soils gives the blend structure and complexity while supporting supple, elegant tannins. The wine’s name recalls both Ficulle’s position near the boundary between Umbria and Tuscany—once part of eastern Etruria—and the area’s sedimentary calcareous-clayey ground, distinct from the volcanic soils around Orvieto. The Maravalle family’s ancestors used the same name for wine made in the estate’s Etruscan cave, which became a cellar during the nineteenth century.
Grapes
A blend of Montepulciano and Merlot. A small selected portion of the grapes is dried before vinification.
Vinification
Following destemming and gentle crushing, the fruit begins with cold maceration. Fermentation then continues for 21 days in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. The partial drying technique, introduced with the 2013 vintage, contributes measured sweetness and ripe-red-fruit character.
Ageing
The wine matures for 10–12 months in French oak barriques, where malolactic fermentation takes place. It then rests for another 24 months in bottle.
Tasting profile
Deep ruby red with subtle violet reflections. The complex bouquet combines cherry preserve, small woodland berries, nutmeg and cinnamon. The palate is rich, persistent and smooth, with dense yet soft tannins and the structure required for ageing.
Vintage notes
The 2013 season was comparatively cool, with frequent rain through winter and spring. The vegetative cycle recovered from its delay in July, while warm September days allowed the grapes to reach full ripeness. Healthy fruit with excellent phenolic maturity arrived at the cellar.
Label / history
“Terra di Confine” was the traditional name used by the Maravalle family’s ancestors for the estate wine produced in the ancient Etruscan cave that later became its cellar.
