# Poggio alla Guardia (2014)

- **Producer:** Rocca di Frassinello
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
- **Region:** Toscana, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Passed
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** red plum, black plum, blackberry, black cherry, blackcurrant, red cherry, leather, tobacco, earth

## About this wine

Poggio alla Guardia 2014 is a red wine from the Maremma Toscana DOC appellation in Tuscany, Italy, produced by Rocca di Frassinello. This wine is a blend typically featuring Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Rocca di Frassinello is a notable project established through a collaboration between Castellare di Castellina and Domaines Barons de Rothschild-Lafite, with the winery itself designed by architect Renzo Piano. The Poggio alla Guardia is positioned as an approachable wine, characterized by its unwooded aging process in cement tanks, which emphasizes its fruit-forward profile and readiness for early consumption.

## Interesting facts

- Designed by architect Renzo Piano.
- A joint venture between Italian and French wine legends.
- Aims for early drinking pleasure.
- Aged exclusively in cement tanks.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium+ body and ripe tannins are well-suited to complement the richness of proteins like lamb and beef, while its vibrant acidity can cut through fattier dishes. The herbal notes often found in Tuscan wines can echo the herbs used in cooking, creating a harmonious connection.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for Poggio alla Guardia 2014 involves fermentation in steel or cement tanks, a technique chosen to highlight the wine's fruit expression. After fermentation, the wine is aged for at least 12 months in concrete vats. It then undergoes an additional 4 months of aging in the bottle before it is released. This method of aging exclusively in cement tanks is a deliberate choice to ensure the wine remains unwooded, contributing to its characteristic approachability and early drinking window.