Ilatraia Brancaia 2021

The Ilatraia, produced by Cantina Brancaia, is a red wine of good structure and intensity, aged in barrique for 18 months. It is a modern wine with a distinctly international profile, clearly inspired by Bordeaux. The grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc are grown in the Maremma estate of Brancaia, in the province of Grosseto. In this particular area, thanks to the typically Mediterranean climate, warm and sunny, and the gentle breezes from the Tyrrhenian Sea, the French grape varieties ripen perfectly, achieving a great aromatic richness. This special territorial connotation gives Ilatraia a seductive profile that makes it particularly harmonious and alluring.

The red Ilatraia is born in the estate located on the gentle hills of Maremma in Grosseto, at an altitude between 75 and 175 meters above sea level, with a west and southwest exposure. The vines are planted in a spurred cordon style, with a density of 5,680 plants per hectare, and their roots sink into low-fertility soils, rich in stones, composed of sand, silt, and clay.It is a classic Bordeaux blend made up of Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Petit Verdot (40%), and Cabernet Franc (20%). Respecting the different ripening times of the grapes, the three varieties are harvested and then vinified separately, with fermentations that involve contact with the skins for about 25 days. The aging in French oak barrique, half new and half already used, lasts about 18 months. After blending and bottling, the wine ages for another 12 months before being released on the market.

The wine from Brancaia Ilatraia represents the synthesis between the historic tradition of great Bordeaux reds and the territory of Maremma Toscana. Thus, an label is born that recalls the blends of French wines, but with a Mediterranean territorial connotation, which gives a warmer and sunnier expressive maturity. In the glass, it presents an intense ruby red with garnet reflections. On the nose, it expresses a mature richness, with aromas of small dark berries, cherry, notes of underbrush and humus, spicy hints, balsamic nuances, andherbs of the Mediterranean scrub. On the palate, it denotes important body and structure, with enveloping depth and remarkable taste persistence. The tannic texture is well integrated and the freshness is always balanced. Excellent pairings with roasted red meats or game.