Castel de Paolis Campo Vecchio – Frascati DOC 2018
Frascati is the most famous wine place of Lazio, the region around Rome. It’s a place with many extinct volcanos and hills. Soil is a mix of 600,000-yrs-old sedimented ashes and lapilli under a clay layer. Wine is known since Romans’ time, and the first book about agricultural and winemaking was De Agri Cultura by Marco Porcio Catone (234 b.C-149 b.C). He lived in Tuscolo, a wooded hill near Frascati.
This wine is a blend of three different grapes:
Malvasia del Lazio: that’s known as Malvasia Puntinata (Malvasia with dots), because there’re little dark green dots on the grapes; it’s cultivated mainly in Lazio region where there’re 600 ha (1500 acres). It’s sensible to diseases e for that it has been substituted with Malvasia di Candia, less fine but stronger than it. In the last years there’re many projects to replant it, thanks the best know-how in agronomical. It is present in many white grapes DOC (denomination of controlled origin) of Lazio.
Malvasia di Candia: that’s a typical Italian not aromatic Malvasia, cultivated mainly in Lazio and Umbria, and a little in Toscana, Emilia-Romagna and Lombardia. In Italy there’re 4800 ha (12,000 acres), it’s less complex than the Puntinata one but more resistant to diseases.
Viognier: that’s a Rhone-born grape and in the last 20 years its presence has grown, mainly Tuscany and Lazio. In Italy there’re some 1200 hectars of it. Is used both in assembly with other grapes and pure, giving structure and acidity to final product.
Back label
Denomination: Frascati DOC
Grapes: Malvasia del Lazio and Malvasia di Candia 80%, Viognier 20%
Alchool: 13°
Location: Grottaferrata (Rome)
Style: fermentation in steel tank along 10 days
Note: since 2019 this wine is an IGT (Typical Geographic Indication)
Tasting Notes
Golden yellow colour, bright and clear. Scents of straw, rosemary, pears, hazelnuts. The aromas are crisp and clean, it opens almost immediately in the glass with delicacy and then comes out with a good consistency. The alcohol content is remarkable on the palate and balanced by a moderate softness. Good freshness and flavor, with a structure that makes it suitable for even demanding dishes.
Pairings
Its good structure and fresh characteristics make it excellent in combination with chicken cacciatore, pasta alla carbonara and grilled lake fish. Grilled carp with grilled vegetables.
Price
11-14€