GREAT ITALIAN WINES TASTING
Merlot Grapes: Pure
Marchese di' Frescobaldi
Florence
	One of the leading and largest European wine-making companies, Frescobaldi owns nine estates in Tuscany, all located in particularly vocational areas and devoted to the production of quality, Doc and Docg wines. Of the nine estates, including Remole, Castiglioni, Corte, Santa Maria and Vallano, I Castelli di Pomino, Nipozzano and Castelgiocondo produce the wines of greatest prestige. Built in 1100 to defend the road from Porto di Salomone to Siena, Castelgiocondo in 1989 became the company where Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi produces its Brunello di Montalcino.      Castelgiocondo is one of the first four companies to have produced and bottled Brunello di Montalcino since the end of last century. In 1975, the company saw a further stage in modernisation when the vineyards were replanted.      The estate stands among the delightful hillsides of Siena on the Maremmano slopes of Montalcino, 40 Km as the crow flies from the sea, at an altitude of 250-400 metres; the overall area is 815 hectares, of which 240 producing Sangiovese and Merlot. With a vineyard area of 151 hectares in Brunello itself, the estate is the largest producing Brunello di Montalcino. The clayey ground and the dry climate make this the ideal zone for production of Castelgiocondo Riserva, Castelgiocondo, Campo ai Sassi and Lamaione.
The wine: Lamaione Igt Merlot di Toscana '99
	Grapes used: Merlot 100% Production Characteristics: the grapes were harvested between September 10 and 22. Fermentation took place in stainless steel. Maceration on the skins lasted 4 weeks and malolactic fermentation took place "in barrique." Refinement in new French oak barrique for 24 months. After bottling (October 2001), the wine remained in the bottle for about one year Alcohol: 14.5% vol.
Presented by Vittorio Frescobaldi
	Born in Florence November 30, 1928. After high school, he took a Degree in Agrarian Studies in 1953. Even before graduating, he was already involved with his father, Lamberto, in the management of the family's agricultural companies. On his father's death, he took over the management of the company. In the 1960’s, he began efforts involving far-reaching changes in company structures, giving a modern and rational style to the agricultural companies, each managed with specific objectives. He implemented an important replanting programme that saw the company become one of the most important forestry companies - although wine-growing and oenology saw the most important investments. In 1977, he received the title "Cavaliere del Lavoro." He was vice-president of Confagricoltura 1986-1990. In 1980, Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi became an equity company and Vittorio Frescobaldi was its first president. Currently, Vittorio Frescobaldi is also president of Banca C. Steinhauslin & C. Spa; president of Nugola Spa (agricultural company in the province of Livorno); vice-president of the Chianti Wine Consortium. Member of the Board of Directors of the Florence Union of Agriculturists. He is married to Bona and they have four children: Fiammetta, Angelica, Lamberto and Diana.
Winery
	Marchese Frescobaldi via Santo Spirito 11, 50125 Florence Tel: 39 055.27141 . Fax: 39 055.211527 Email: info@frescobaldi.it