Historical Background
As the Merlot grape was already present in the Agro Pontino valley when Casale del Giglio launched its research project in 1985, the first really tangible result of the estate’s vine growing experiments came with the successful adaptation of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot to the microclimate of the rea.aMadrese lva takes its name from the wonderfully perfumed wild honeysuckle, or ‘madreselva’, which rambles its way through the shady undergrowth of the Agro Pontino.

Grape Varieties and Vinification Technique  
An equal blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, all three red grape varieties are picked when fully ripe, but at quite different times. Merlot ripens in mid-september, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot much later. The vinification procedure, different for each variety in the blend, is described in the preceding profiles of the corresponding three monovarietal wines. When malolactic fermentation is complete the new wines mature in small oak casks for 18-20 months and after racking are blended together in equal proportions. Madreselva ages in the bottle for 8-12 months before leaving the winery.

Tasting Note
A bright, intensely concentrated, ruby-red wine. The nose reveals a very mature, dark personality – black cherry and damson jam to the fore, with undertones of wet autumn leaves and juniper. The palate is well-balanced and persistent with velvety tannins that reflect the dark, fruity, balsamic character of the nose.

Suggested Food Pairing ‘Coda alla Vaccinara’ – Oxtail in a rich tomato sauce; peasant fare from the Roman tradition.