Rocca di Frassinello : San Germano 2019

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for the 2019 San Germano from Rocca di Frassinello

Tasting

Color

The color displays an intense ruby-red hue enhanced by garnet highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals a complex bouquet dominated by aromas of blackcurrant and very ripe black cherry. Secondary notes of chocolate, coffee, vanilla, leather, and graphite gradually emerge with aeration.

Palate

On the palate, this wine seduces with its impressive structure, combining power and elegance. The tannins are firm while retaining a lovely suppleness. The round texture envelops flavors of blackberry, blackcurrant, and plum, accompanied by notes of dark spices, mocha, tobacco, lavender, and dried herbs. The remarkable freshness brought by the acidity preserves balance despite the wine’s concentration. The finish lingers at length, attesting to excellent aging potential.

Food and Wine Pairings

This wine is an ideal match for roasted, braised, or grilled red meats. It also pairs perfectly with game such as wild boar, venison, or duck. Aged hard cheeses also make a harmonious pairing. Slow-cooked dishes with concentrated flavors and refined sauced dishes particularly highlight the complexity of this wine.

Serving and Cellaring

The 2019 San Germano can be enjoyed now, while also offering aging potential through around 2034.

A Maremma Toscana Wine Combining Power and Refinement from an Ancient Terroir

The Estate

Rocca di Frassinello was born in the 2000s from a unique partnership between Italian entrepreneur Paolo Panerai and the Rothschild family. Inaugurated in 2007, the estate spans 500 hectares, including 90 hectares of vineyards in Maremma Toscana, in the province of Grosseto. The estate stands out for its winery designed by architect Renzo Piano, the only wine cellar signed by this master of contemporary architecture. Paolo Panerai remains at the helm of the estate today, assisted by winemaker Alessandro Cellai. This unique Italian-French collaboration combines Tuscan expertise in sangiovese with Bordeaux mastery of international grape varieties, creating exceptional wines recognized worldwide.

The Vineyard

San Germano comes from a parcel located on the heights of the estate in Maremma Toscana. This vineyard benefits from a privileged position with heterogeneous soils composed of galestro, clay, and calcareous sands rich in mineral elements. The climate is characterized by higher temperatures than in Chianti, allowing optimal ripening of the grapes. A constant sea breeze passes through the vineyard, regulating humidity and temperatures. This parcel occupies a site steeped in history: archaeological excavations have revealed an Etruscan necropolis, bearing witness to three millennia of viticulture on these hills.

The Vintage

The 2019 vintage in Maremma was marked by a cool, rainy spring that delayed the vegetative stages. Summer then brought ideal conditions, with generous sunshine and high temperatures without excess, allowing perfect phenolic ripeness. Significant temperature variations between day and night encouraged the development of aromatic complexity and color intensity. This climatic alternation produced grapes of exceptional quality, concentrated while preserving lovely freshness.

Vinification and Aging

The vinification of San Germano 2019 is carried out entirely in stainless-steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation takes place in cement vats to encourage the harmonious integration of the components. Aging then continues for 30 months in French oak barrels, 70% of which are new. The wine then benefits from an additional 11 months of bottle aging before release.

Grape Varieties

Merlot (45%)
Cabernet sauvignon (45%)
Sangioveto (10%)