Tenuta l'Impostino - Lupo Bianco - Tuscany Red I.G.P.

Data Sheet

Name: Lupo Bianco

Appellation: Tuscany Red I.G.P.

Grapes: 60% Sangiovese - 40% Merlot

Vineyard: Pietroso

Planting year: 2002

Characteristics of the soil: clayey-calcareous rich of skeleton

Exposition: on the dominant hill with an exposition on south-west and north-east

Altitude: 300 m asl

Planting density: 5.500 plants/ha

Pruning system: spurred cordon (Royat cordon)

Yield per hectare: 5 tonnes

Harvest: manual in boxes, between the end of September and the middle of October

Vinication: the grapes carefully harvested are manually selected on a sorting belt in the winery, before the beginning of the alcoholic fermentation with selected yeasts, at a constant temperature of 23°C. The maceration lasts about 20-25 days with pumpovers exposed to the air till the end of the fermentation; the cap punchings are manual and repeated till the moment of the devatting

Duration of the alcoholic fermentation: 12-15 days

Malolactic fermentation: spontaneously in barriques

Maturation: 24 months in French oak barriques with repeated batonnages in order to favour the extraction from its lees

Aging: not less than 6 months in bottle

Analytical bottling data: alcohol: 14,7 % vol, residual sugar: 1,4 g/l, total acidity: 5,6 g/l, pH: 3,47, volatile acidity: 0,35 g/l

La Season

One of the best season for a production of great importance wines in the Maremma inland, on high hills and well ventilated areas as ours. A regular winter has been followed by a hot spring, with few rainfall and a good ventilation. The summer has been very difficult with the second half of August which scored temperatures above the average for this season. During this period our deep and rich of skeleton soils was fundamental, they succeeded in keeping the coolness and the plant only in a light water stress without interruption of the physiological activity. Our agronomical choices went to reduce the production through a heavy bunches thinning. These choices drove us to obtain concentrated but equilibrated wines, rich of sapidity and with intense and persisting fragrance.

Tasting Notes

Of a impenetrable and dense ruby colour and an intense and wide flavour, in which the fragrance of mature fruits is dominant, starting with the blackberry, the cherry and the blackcurrant, followed by notes of tobacco and hints of sweet spices, vanilla and cinnamon and with an almost balsamic final. It presents itself strong and well structured to taste, with a great full body and a remarkable freshness. The tannin is well integrated. The final is long and really pleasant with a bittering note.

Food Pairings

Of an important structure and concentration it is better served at 28°C, in wide balloon that can valorise its aromatic bouquet. It goes along well with strong structured plates, red meat and game with long and important cooking, or with long-aging cheese. It is great together with truffle, “Pecorino” cheese and with meat plates cocked with truffles. It is enhanced pared with spicy stews and it is perfect with the  classical Maremma plate: the wild boar stew.

Lupo Bianco ( White Wolf )

Everybody in Paganico knows that in the countryside, at the end of a working day, when the sun begins to descent behind the Sassoforte, it is best not to linger too much to tinker, or you might come across the White Wolf.

Some say it is nothing more than a mythical representation of the Mist, which in the autumn evenings envelops the country, and indeed many swear they have only glimpsed it, and nobody, we know, met him face to face, but it is certain that  just naming it, everybody run towards home.

It is said that a hunter, chasing a big boar and not realizing the arrival of twilight, lost all his hunting dogs, who were attracted by its Lupo Bianco away from their prey.

An animal that is mythical and mysterious, perhaps even invented, but it certainly is a hallmark of the community of Paganico, in which everybody remember the warning of parents, when, as we were children, we lingered to play: "Come home, or the white Wolf will size you all !"

At the White Wolf, elusive and mysterious, we dedicated our most rare and precious wine, produced in small quantities from Sangiovese and Merlot grapes, and lovingly aged for 24 months in french oak barriques.

Served at 18° is wonderful with grilled cheese, truffle, game meats and stews. Perfect with wild boar stew, warms the heart even alone, as meditation.