Rock of Frassinello is nestled below the slopes of the medieval town of Giuncarico right between Gavorrano and Ribolla, perched on a gentle hill overlooking the vast plains of farmland and farms. The company Fortress Frasinello comes from a small idea, linked to the development needs of Castellare di Castellina Chianti (a company for nearly thirty years owned by Paolo Panerai) and becomes a major project with the participation of Domaines Baron de Rothschild-Lafite that gives birth to the first major joint venture in wine between Italy and France.
The decision to raise Fortress Frassinello in the area between Gavorrano and Ribolla, in front of Giuncarico, derives from lands with the same characteristics of Chianti and Montalcino, but before in the presence of higher average temperatures and the possibility of having earlier maturations even of three or four weeks. A strategic point the one on the hill on both side of the old Aurelia, which forms a canyon in which the wind from the sea coming from the level between Grosseto and Castiglione della Pescaia passes thorigh: a steady breeze that takes away any moisture and moderates the climate in summer and winter .
The architectural project entrusted to the creative talents of Renzo Piano, emphasizes how a winery is a sort of factory and hence the decision to create the interiors of industrial materials such as exposed concrete, formwork finished with birch as it hences the choice of giving greater attention to areas reserved for production and also laying the barrique center, underground, so the wine has the ideal temperature and humidity. A huge open space with no support columns, while the production area, with the steel vats, follows two sides of the square, where during the harvest each vat is connected to a tube situated on the next level: a large square of 5,000 square meters formed by the roof of the barrique and its outer frame.
The 2500 small wine barrels are arranged around a staircase made of four sides around a focal point illuminated by a ray of sunlight as they were seeing an old theatrical performance. Above the heart of the cellar, a huge empty terrace with at its center a “pavilion” of clear glass, made of steel and transparent which defines the area of reception, with wine shop and wine tasting.
The labels now produced are four and take the approach of the great French Chateau: Poggio alla Guardia (15% Sangioveto, 45% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon), wine entry that on its labels has no reference to the name of the company; Le Sughere di Frassinello (50% Sangioveto, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot 25%) first wine of Rocca di Frassinello (60% Sangioveto, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot 20%), top production. The latest born is Baffonero (100% Merlot) which name summarizes events related to Maremma, characterized of hunting, strong men, aggressive boars.
The cellar is a platform permanently accessible, from which to capture the distant landscape and forest, with its hard blue skies and clear air, of bitter and poignant beauty. A special place in the rest of the province which is called “laggiù“.
Alessio Nesi
