About this wine
Profile
Desiderio was a bull which lived on Avignonesi’s Capezzine farm more than one hundred years ago. The largest bull in Tuscany at that time, this majestic animal helped define the Chianina cattle race, specific to the Bistecca Fiorentina. It came as a natural choice to dedicate this Merlot to the beloved bull as a testimony to the wines’ origin. This is Merlot from Tuscany at its best.
2021 vintage
Temperatures in early spring 2021 were higher than usual. However, no one would have expected a winter weather episode in April; frost causes substantial damage affecting the yield but, luckily, not the quality. A mild summer with generally cool temperatures mitigated the lack of rainfall. The abundant water reserves stored in the soil during the winter allowed the grapes to ripen properly.
Grapes
100% Merlot
Alcohol
14%
Production
50,602 bottles
Awards
94 pts Falstaff 94 pts Veronelli 94 pts Sommelier’s Choice 93 pts James Suckling 93 pts Vinous 93 pts Wine Enthusiast
Tasting notes
Explosive aromatic impact. The broad aromatic bouquet ranges from cherry jam to mulberry, with hints of wisteria blossom, black tea and liquorice. The entry is dark and textured, enveloping the palate with depth and warmth. The sip is juicy, in perfect harmony with the aromatic impressions, enriched by spicy nuances on the retro-olfaction. Dense, vibrant tannins and a deep, lingering finish hint at a long ageing potential in bottle. Delightful today, exceptional tomorrow. 2021 2020 2019
Vintage technical details
2021
DESIDERIO TOSCANA I.G.T. MERLOT 2021 Desiderio was a bull which lived on Avignonesi’s Capezzine farm more than one hundred years ago. The largest bull in Tuscany at that time, this majestic animal helped define the Chianina cattle race, specific to the Bistecca Fiorentina. It came as a natural choice to dedicate this Merlot to the beloved bull as a testimony to the wines’ origin. This is Merlot from Tuscany at its best. 202 1 VINTAGE Temperatures in early spring 2021 were higher than usual. However, no one would have expected a winter weather episode in April; frost causes substantial damage affecting the yield but, luckily, not the quality. A mild summer with generally cool temperatures mitigated the lack of rainfall. The abundant water reserves stored in the soil during the winter allowed the grapes to ripen properly. TASTING NOTES Explosive aromatic impact. The broad aromatic bouquet ranges from cherry jam to mulberry, with hints of wisteria blossom, black tea and liquorice. The entry is dark and textured, enveloping the palate with depth and warmth. The sip is juicy, in perfect harmony with the aromatic impressions, enriched by spicy nuances on the retro-olfaction. Dense, vibrant tannins and a deep, lingering finish hint at a long ageing potential in bottle. Delightful today, exceptional tomorrow. ..................................................................................................................................................... GRAPES 100% Merlot ALCOHOL 14% PRODUCTION 50.602 bottles ..................................................................................................................................................... FROM VINEYARD TO VINIFICATION SOIL TYPE Sedimentation from the Pleistocene (3 million - 120,000 years ago) with a strong fluvial clay origin in Cortona and moderately deep, silty clay soil from the Pliocene (3-5 million years ago) origin in Montepulciano. VINEYARD SPECIFICS Greppo: planted in 2001; 282 metres / 925 ft a.s.l.; north-west, south-east orientation; cordon-trained; 5,200 plants / hectare (2,105 plants / acre). La Selva: planted in 2000; 300 metres / 984 ft) a.s.l.; south-east orientation; bush-trained; 7,158 vines / hectare (2,897 vines / acre). Le Badelle: planted in 2000; 375 metres / 1,227 ft a.s.l.; northern orientation; cordon- trained; 5,882 vines / hectare (2,380 vines / acre). HARVEST 4 - 21 September VINIFICATION Crushing and destemming in stainless steel truncated-cone tanks. AGEING 24 months in oak barriques (225 ltr) ..................................................................................................................................................... AWARDS 2021: 93 pts Vinous
2020
DESIDERIO TOSCANA I.G.T. MERLOT 2020 Desiderio was a bull which lived on Avignonesi’s Capezzine farm more than one hundred years ago. The largest bull in Tuscany at that time, this majestic animal helped define the Chianina cattle race, specific to the Bistecca Fiorentina. It came as a natural choice to dedicate this Merlot to the beloved bull as a testimony to the wines’ origin. This is Merlot from Tuscany at its best. 2020 VINTAGE The rather mild and dry winter of 2020 mirrors that of 2019. The heavy rains after flowering caused some difficulties that our team was however able to manage excellently. Thanks to the great water retention capacity of our clay-rich soils, the bunches have easily overcome the summer heat and preserved their acidity. TASTING NOTES Explosive olfactory impact. The wide aromatic bouquet ranges from cherry and plum jam to notes of black tea, rhubarb, and graphite, and final touches of cardamom. The entrance is bursting. On the palate it is enveloping and deep, accompanied by a silky and linear tannin typical of the structure of Tuscan Merlot. Tastefully juicy and in symbiosis with the olfactory notes, it gives notes of coconut and black pepper in the aftertaste. ..................................................................................................................................................... GRAPES 100% Merlot ALCOHOL 14.5% PRODUCTION 40,933 bottles ..................................................................................................................................................... FROM VINEYARD TO VINIFICATION SOIL TYPE Sedimentation from the Pleistocene (3 million - 120,000 years ago) with a strong fluvial clay origin in Cortona and moderately deep, silty clay soil from the Pliocene (3-5 million years ago) origin in Montepulciano. VINEYARD SPECIFICS Greppo: planted in 2001; 282 metres / 925 ft a.s.l.; north-west, south-east orientation; cordon-trained; 5,200 plants / hectare (2,105 plants / acre). La Selva: planted in 2000; 300 metres / 984 ft) a.s.l.; south-east orientation; bush-trained; 7,158 vines / hectare (2,897 vines / acre). Le Badelle: planted in 2000; 375 metres / 1,227 ft a.s.l.; northern orientation; cordon- trained; 5,882 vines / hectare (2,380 vines / acre). HARVEST Early September VINIFICATION Fermentation with use of indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature for 25-30 days, with daily pumping over and punching down. AGEING In oak barriques (225 ltr) ..................................................................................................................................................... AWARDS 2020: 93 pts James Suckling
2019
DESIDERIO TOSCANA I.G.T. MERLOT 2019 Desiderio was a bull which lived on Avignonesi’s Capezzine farm more than one hundred years ago. The largest bull in Tuscany at that time, this majestic animal helped define the Chianina cattle race, specific to the Bistecca Fiorentina. It came as a natural choice to dedicate this Merlot to the beloved bull as a testimony to the wines’ origin. This is Merlot from Tuscany at its best. 201 9 VINTAGE 2019 was a great year for wine. Warm weather albeit not dry, was the background to a great production in terms of quantity and quality. With just the right amount of rainfall, work in the vineyards never stopped and great attention was placed to the grapes to balance warmth, rain and soil. 2019 was also a great year for our family. Desiderio is proud to wear a pink bow on the 2019 label to celebrate the birth of Virginie’s first granddaughter, Ophélie. TASTING NOTES Explosive olfactory impact. The wide aromatic bouquet ranges from cherry and plum jam to notes of black tea, rhubarb, and graphite, and final touches of cardamom. The entrance is bursting. On the palate it is enveloping and deep, accompanied by a silky and linear tannin typical of the structure of Tuscan Merlot. Tastefully juicy and in symbiosis with the olfactory notes, it gives notes of coconut and black pepper in the aftertaste. ..................................................................................................................................................... GRAPES 100% Merlot ALCOHOL 14.5% PRODUCTION 28,465 bottles ..................................................................................................................................................... FROM VINEYARD TO VINIFICATION SOIL TYPE Sedimentation from the Pleistocene (3 million - 120,000 years ago) with a strong fluvial clay origin in Cortona and moderately deep, silty clay soil from the Pliocene (3-5 million years ago) origin in Montepulciano. VINEYARD SPECIFICS Greppo: planted in 2001; 282 metres / 925 ft a.s.l.; north-west, south-east orientation; cordon-trained; 5,200 plants / hectare (2,105 plants / acre). La Selva: planted in 2000; 300 metres / 984 ft) a.s.l.; south-east orientation; bush-trained; 7,158 vines / hectare (2,897 vines / acre). Le Badelle: planted in 2000; 375 metres / 1,227 ft a.s.l.; northern orientation; cordon- trained; 5,882 vines / hectare (2,380 vines / acre). HARVEST The grapes were harvested in early September VINIFICATION Fermentation with use of indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature for 25-30 days, with daily pumping over and punching down. AGEING In oak barriques (225 ltr) ..................................................................................................................................................... AWARDS 2019: 93 pts James Suckling | 92 pts Wine & Spirits