Podere Il Castellaccio Somatico 2023

Podere Il Castellaccio Somatico 2023, the memory of Pugnitello

With the Somatico 2023, I invite you to discover Pugnitello, an ancient Tuscan grape variety long forgotten and now brought back to light in the Maremma. This organic red tells as much a story of vineyard and memory as it does of winemaking, with oak aging that accompanies its expression without erasing its identity.

A rare grape, rooted in the Maremma

At Podere Il Castellaccio, winemaker Alessandro Scappini works vintage after vintage with one guiding concern: letting the conditions of each harvest shape the wine. The family estate is located in Tuscany, and the Somatico is made from Pugnitello, an ancient indigenous variety that had been set aside before finding a new home in the lands of the Maremma. The wine is labeled IGP Toscana.

The grapes come from vines about fifty years old, planted on schist marl soils at 160 meters above sea level. Farming is organic and the harvest is done by hand, at the moment judged optimal for ripeness. In the cellar, fermentation takes place with native yeasts in concrete tanks, followed by skin maceration lasting about two weeks. The wine then matures for twelve months in 500-liter barrels, and rests another twelve months in bottle before release. Each harvest also comes with a new label: Andrea Carciola creates twenty faces each year, in an image that changes with the vintage.

For tasting, the available indications describe a red that is both fruity and spicy, with moderate oak presence and a medium-bodied palate: on the scales provided, fruity-spicy sits at 6 out of 9, oak influence at 5 out of 9, and lightness-structure at 5 out of 9. I prefer to stick to these reference points rather than invent precise aromas for you. The sheet does not describe the color of the wine, nor any particular notes on the nose or palate; it does, however, announce a red wine aged in oak. The profile thus suggests a balance between the character of the grape, the aging and the body, without claiming an intensity the information does not confirm.

At the table, with flavors of character

I would serve it with aged cheeses, red meats or game, pairings suggested for this wine and matching its spicy profile and medium body. For a meal, you can let it accompany a roast meat or a cheese platter, without feeling it must be reserved for a special occasion: its distinctiveness lies first in this rare Pugnitello and its Tuscan roots. If you enjoy discovering uncommon grape varieties and understanding what a place and a vintage can change, the Somatico 2023 deserves a place at your table.