Principe Pallavicini Roma Rosso 2021
Principe Pallavicini Roma Rosso
Region: Lazio, Italy
Vintage: 2021
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Montepulciano, Cesanese, Syrah
ABV: 13.5%
This wine is ruby red in colour, with excellent intensity and violet hints. On the nose, there are perfumes of sour cherry, vanilla and spices. On the palate, it is intense and rounded, with spiced blackberry and chocolate flavours complemented by well-balanced tannins and a long and persistent finish.
The vineyards are located at 300 metres above sea level in the classic area of Castelli Romani, situated between the ancient volcanic area of southern Lazio and the city of Rome. The soil there is volcanic and particularly fertile. Vines are aged between 15 and 30 years old. The trellising system is Guyot and spurred cordon. The plant density is around 4,000 plants per hectare.
The grapes were hand harvested and sorted by hand at the winery. Fermentation took place in stainless steel vats at controlled temperatures of 24-28°C. Pump overs and delestage were carried out during and after the fermentation for better extraction. The wine was aged for six months in stainless steel and concrete vats, followed by one year in large French oak barrels of which 70% second use and 30% new oak. The wine was then aged for a minimum of four months in bottle prior to release.
The history of the Pallavicini family, who have owned land in the Lazio region for hundreds of years, is intertwined with that of Popes, Cardinals, Generals and Princes. The Palazzo Pallavicini-Rospigliosi on the Quirinal Hill in Rome is a clear testament to this remarkable ancestry. Among the Pallavicini’s proprieties is the Tenuta di Colonna, in the Castelli Romani area southeast of Rome. Here they have around 60 hectares of vines, of which about 50 are white varieties planted at an elevation of 200 metres on a combination of volcanic soils, calcareous clays and sand. The history of this area is even older than the Pallavicini family. According to legend, the Cretans built the first hilltop villages in Castelli Romani when they arrived in 1200 BC after being displaced by the Mycenaeans. The Principe Pallavicini winery is built over a Roman cistern and aqueduct, while Roman artefacts and remains can be regularly found everywhere on the estate.