About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
Vie Cave comes from Fattoria Aldobrandesca in inland southern Maremma, near Sovana and at the heart of the Etruscan Tuff zone. The estate’s Malbec grows on flat volcanic terrain with tuffaceous subsoils, below the tuff spur crowned by Sovana.
Grapes
Malbec, a French variety selected following geological and oenological research into its potential in Maremma’s volcanic terroir.
Vinification
For the 2023 vintage, the freshly harvested grapes were destemmed and gently pressed, then transferred to stainless-steel vats. Alcoholic fermentation took place at a controlled 30 °C. Maceration lasted approximately one week and was handled gently to regulate the extraction of soft tannins.
Ageing
The wine matured for approximately seven months in French-oak barriques and was bottled in January 2025.
Technical data
Toscana IGT. Latest published vintage: 2023.
Tasting profile
Vie Cave 2023 is an intense, nearly opaque ruby red. The nose combines ripe blueberry and blackberry with bitter cocoa and licorice. Rich and enveloping on the palate, it has silky tannins and a persistent finish marked by dark chocolate and mint.
Vintage notes
The 2023 season opened with a mild, relatively dry winter and above-average temperatures. Pruning was delayed to reduce the risk from late spring frost, setting vegetative growth back by about ten days. A cool, rainy start to spring slowed growth, but May warmth and ample soil-water reserves allowed the vines to recover, supporting normal budbreak and excellent flowering and fruit set. A hot, typically Mediterranean summer with little rain led to slow, progressive ripening and healthy, aromatic grapes with crisp berries. Harvest was carried out by hand in several passes from late September through October, when the fruit had reached full ripeness and strong varietal expression.
Label / history
Vie Cave is named for the ancient Etruscan roads cut deeply into the local tuff around Sovana. The wine emerged from geological and winemaking research intended to express Malbec in this volcanic landscape.
