Casale del Giglio is a family estate of unconventional land in the Agro Pontino valley, some 50 kms south of Rome.  Launched in 1985 Antonio Santarelli and his father Dino gave free rein to their pioneering ideas. by planting of close to 60 different experimental varietals in Casale del Giglio’s distinct soil as well as cultivating some local standards.  Stop by this Saturday and taste the results.

2015 Petit Manseng $18
Originally from the Jurançon region in the French Atlantic Pyrenees, the thick-skinned Petit Manseng’s small berries yield very little juice.  They are not harvested until late autumn.  By this time the grapes have shriveled and their sugar content is at its most concentrated.  The wine is intensely aromatic, fruity and spicy on the nose, fresh, crisp and flinty on the palate with a fruit-filled finish.

2016 Bellone Bianco  $13
Bellone is a grape variety cited by Pliny the Elder and has been present in the Latium region since Roman times.  The wine evokes ripe tropical fruit such as mango and papaya.  It is rich, ample and lingering on the palate with light floral, spicy notes, a pronounced acidity and zesty tang.

2015 Satrico Bianco $12
40% Chardonnay, 40% Sauvignon, 20% Trebbiano Giallo
This white wine takes its name from the ancient pre-Roman city of Satricum.  This hillside settlement, was the site of a temple dedicated to the goddess Mater Matuta.  Remains of her temple can still be seen today close to Casale del Giglio’s vineyards.  The wine reveals a fruity, lightly aromatic yet mineral nose, confirmed on the palate by a pleasing crispness and a lengthy finish.

2015 Cesanese Rosso $15
Cesanses is a local varietal from the Latium Province of Frosinone, once inhabited by the ancient Volsci tribe who conquered the town of Satricum in 488 BC and ruled supreme until the Romans took over in 385 BC.  The wine has intense aromas of Marasca cherry followed by spicy notes of white pepper, black pepper and violet.  The mouthfeel is soft, with persistent tannins and pronounced acidity.

2015 Petit Verdot $19
A red grape variety from Bordeaux, Petit Verdot’s traditional role has been that of a minor partner in blends with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. A late ripening variety, Petit Verdot has adapted perfectly to the microclimate of the Agro Pontino valley where bright sunshine, sea breezes and warm soil allow the grape to mature to perfection and to be vinified as a pure varietal. The wine has aromas of red berry fruit, cherry, myrtle and juniper. Elegant and full-bodied, with rich velvety tannins, the wine presents a spicy, white peppery finish.

Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.