Castello del Terriccio Lupicaia 2008 - 750ml

96pts Vinous

The estate's 2008 Lupicaia was beautiful a year ago, and it is just as beautiful today. Over the last twelve months the tannins have begun to soften but the aromas remain quite primary. Mocha, espresso, menthol, tar, asphalt and licorice all flow through to the huge, layered finish. The 2008 is going to be a jewel of a wine. In 2008 the blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.

93pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2008 Lupicaia also shows good balsamic notes, greener than the others, and it definitely shows its age thanks to its tertiary aromas. However, this vintage doesn't have that tension or vertical lift that you get in the 2009. It shows less overall dimension. The tannins have fully integrated, and the wine has less textural heft as well.

91pts James Suckling

A wine with lots of dried fruits and hints of spices. Full and silky texture, with a slightly chewy mouth feel and a mouth puckering finish. Needs two or three years to soften. Try in 2014.

Winery Notes

The Castello del Terriccio (Castle of the land) dates back roughly 1000 years. The modern history of the estate begins after World War I, when it was acquired by Count Serrafini Ferri, whose family still owns the property. In the 1920s the Serrafini Ferris' implemented major improvements to the property. This family laid the groundwork for the estate that remains more or less unchanged today.

Up to the 1970s the estate was known mainly for production of grain, it even held the European record for production of second harvest corn. This specialization in grain continues today but also in the organic production of spelt (dinkel wheat), corn, forage and olive groves – but this has been overshadowed in recent times by the estate's expertise and reputation for viticulture and the production of fine wines. It expanded from 25 hectares of vineyards (62 acres) in 1980 to 60 hectares (148 acres) today.

Cultivation of vines in this area dates originally back to the Etruscans, after which it was abandoned and then begun again. At the end of the 1980s a new phase of viticulture started, with the aim of fully exploiting the potential of the land for production of vines. Today vines are cultivated under IGT- Indicazione Geografica Tipica.

Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot