Lamaione is an exceptionally superb Supertuscan produced by the CastelGiocondo tenuta from merlot grown in the 12-hectare Lamaione vineyard, whose vines were planted in 1976 at an elevation of 300 metres.
Serving suggestions
Slow-cooked dishes such as pot roasts marinated in the same wine, mushroom-enriched stews, or beef fillet. Enjoy it too with medium-aged cheeses.
Terroir and environmental conditions
Estate and vineyard location: Castel Giocondo, Montalcino
Altitude: 300 meters (984 feet)
Vineyard size: 12 Ha in the Lamaione vineyard (29 Acres)
Exposure: South-west
Soil type: Clayey terrain rich in limestone and mineral elements. PH lightly alkaline.
Planting density: 5.500 viti/Ha
Training system: Low spur pruned cordon
Vineyard average age: The main vineyard was planted in 1976, and part was recently planted
Toscana IGT
Vintage Report
The 2009 harvest concluded definitively on October 9.
Spring 2009, as was the case in previous years, brought endless rainstorms, which severely tested the vineyard staff as they labored to balance vine growth and control pests, but the rain at the same time built up groundwater reserves. June and July, however, brought light levels of rain, which reversed the slowdown in vine growth and brought forward the ripening stage. The vines were thus able to perform at their best, and the grapes ripened slightly early compared to the previous years.
The Merlot harvested this year was of exceptional quality. September’s cool nights and warm, sunny days ensured that this demanding grape variety ripened perfectly and yielded wines of remarkable quality.
Tenuta di CastelGiocondo is located on an exceptional site on the southwest hillslope of Montalcino, a zone among Europe’s finest for the production of world-class reds. In 2009, it received significant benefit from the warm, sunny days and gentle breezes of the summer, conditions that enabled the estate to harvest fruit that was truly exceptional.
Tasting Notes
Lamaione 2009 is endowed with a very intense, impenetrable ruby-red. It opens with spicy notes of ginger and blueberry jam followed bycroissant, vanilla and cocoa. These are joined at the finish by aromas of tar, liquorice and gunpowder. In the mouth the very fine tannin texture is opulent and silky with a persistent finish.
Technical Information
Variety: Merlot 100%
Yield/Hectare: 25 hl/ha (1.46 Tons/Acres)
Harvest period: The first week of september
Vineyard practices: Manual
Fermentation vats: Inox
Fermentation temperature: Maximum 30C° (86° Fahrenheit)
Alcohol by volume: 15%
Length of fermentation: 12 days
Length of maceration on the skins: 4 weeks
Malolactic fermentation: Immediately after the alcoholic fermentation
Maturation method: New barriques of French oak
Length of maturation: 24 mounths
Bottle formats: 0,75 lt., 1,5 lt., 3 lt