2023 Casale del Giglio - Lazio IGT Rosso Cesanese (750ml)

Casale del Giglio was founded in 1967 by the Santarelli family, Roman wine merchants who took on an unconventional stretch of land in the Agro Pontino valley, about fifty kilometers south of Rome. Antonio Santarelli, who joined his father Dino in the family business, saw potential in this coastal microclimate that no one had previously explored. Working closely with oenologist Paolo Tiefenthaler, the estate pursued years of viticultural research, eventually helping revive native Lazio varieties nearly lost to history, including Bellone and Cesanese, alongside its work with international grapes.

Cesanese is an indigenous variety native to the hill towns around Frosinone, particularly Affile and Piglio, with roots tracing back to the ancient Volsci tribe. It is a low-yielding, late-ripening grape, harvested as late as October from vines set on relatively high slopes. Fermentation takes place with the cap submerged, using spontaneous yeasts at a controlled temperature for around twenty days, followed by an extended ten to twelve days of maceration on the skins to draw out the grape's naturally abundant tannins.

The result is a deep ruby red wine with intense aromas of dark cherry, layered with white and black pepper and a touch of violet. On the palate it is soft and well balanced, with persistent tannins and bright acidity that give it real aging potential. It pairs well with white meat, roast turkey, or a hearty savory stew.