Terre de la Custodia Montefalco Rosso 2012
Terre de la Custodia, owned by the Farchioni family, is nestled in the Umbrian hills just a few kilometers from the historical town of Montefalco. The region, steeped in centuries of winemaking traditions, has seen an uptick in commercial production in recent years, thanks to the resurrection of the Sagrantino grape and its wines. Sagrantino, originally a sweet sacramental wine, almost went extinct 40 years ago due to lack of interest. But then, it was resuscitated by a handful of Umbrian producers, vinified dry, and since, has garnered many fans. By itself, it’s a big wine, one of the world’s elite reds, whose structure requires many years of aging to become approachable. Yet it’s complex aromas, deep black and blue fruit, and earthy, sensuous core is worth the wait.
In a Montefalco Rosso blend, Sagrantino adds that mysterious something special; character, depth and structure. Sangiovese adds brightness and fruit, while the third blending partner, in this bottle, Montepulciano, adds plummy fruit, herbal and tobacco notes, with a deep chocolate accent. The Terre de la Custodia Montefalco Rosso blend of 60% Sangiovese, 25% Montepulciano, and 15% Sagrantino deviates from the usual Merlot in the blend, giving more grip to the wine than the traditional Merlot. It’s fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, then aged in oak barrels for 8 months, and rested for 6 months in bottle before release. As an entry level wine, Montefalco Rosso is meant to be enjoyed young, best with food, and affordable enough to drink daily.
Terre de la Custodia, owned by the Farchioni family, is nestled in the Umbrian hills just a few kilometers from the historical town of Montefalco. The region, steeped in centuries of winemaking traditions, has seen an uptick in commercial production in recent years, thanks to the resurrection of the Sagrantino grape and its wines. Sagrantino, originally a sweet sacramental wine, almost went extinct 40 years ago due to lack of interest. But then, it was resuscitated by a handful of Umbrian producers, vinified dry, and since, has garnered many fans. By itself, it’s a big wine, one of the world’s elite reds, whose structure requires many years of aging to become approachable. Yet it’s complex aromas, deep black and blue fruit, and earthy, sensuous core is worth the wait.
In a Montefalco Rosso blend, Sagrantino adds that mysterious something special; character, depth and structure. Sangiovese adds brightness and fruit, while the third blending partner, in this bottle, Montepulciano, adds plummy fruit, herbal and tobacco notes, with a deep chocolate accent. The Terre de la Custodia Montefalco Rosso blend of 60% Sangiovese, 25% Montepulciano, and 15% Sagrantino deviates from the usual Merlot in the blend, giving more grip to the wine than the traditional Merlot. It’s fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, then aged in oak barrels for 8 months, and rested for 6 months in bottle before release. As an entry level wine, Montefalco Rosso is meant to be enjoyed young, best with food, and affordable enough to drink daily.
The 2012 Terre de la Custodia Montefalco Rosso DOC (SRP $19-25) is a deep purple red wine, medium bodied, with aromas of wild berries, plum, violets, and mint. A bit more austere in its fruit profile, with plum, licorice, earth, tobacco, and bitter chocolate notes, it has good acidity, but lots of structure, requiring a couple hours of decanting to bring a roundness to the wine. It’s earthy fragrance and flavors linger for a long time on the palate. This is a very good food wine, perfect for cutting through the fat of rich dishes, a perfect pair for rich pasta, roasted pork and game, charcuterie, and aged cheeses.
The Farchioni family has produced wine since 1780, and today markets two product lines, Terre de la Custodia and Duca Odoardo. Terre de la Custodia offers a dozen different bottles, from sparkling, white, rosé, red, and dessert wines. The bottle shape, a patented design, was fashioned specifically for the big tannins of Sagrantino. A dent on the front bottom of the bottle creates a bulge inside that collects the sediment below, blocking it from easily flowing out with the wine when pouring a glass.
The vineyards for this brand, nicknamed “La Custodia”, is a reference to the Franciscan friars who held their winemaking traditions as a treasured secret, an art to be guarded and passed down to the next generation of winemakers. The monks or the “custodians” preserved the quality and guaranteed the authenticity of the wines, traditions that the Farchioni family continues to follow today.
The Farchioni family has produced wine since 1780, and today markets two product lines, Terre de la Custodia and Duca Odoardo. Terre de la Custodia offers a dozen different bottles, from sparkling, white, rosé, red, and dessert wines. The bottle shape, a patented design, was fashioned specifically for the big tannins of Sagrantino. A dent on the front bottom of the bottle creates a bulge inside that collects the sediment below, blocking it from easily flowing out with the wine when pouring a glass.
The vineyards for this brand, nicknamed “La Custodia”, is a reference to the Franciscan friars who held their winemaking traditions as a treasured secret, an art to be guarded and passed down to the next generation of winemakers. The monks or the “custodians” preserved the quality and guaranteed the authenticity of the wines, traditions that the Farchioni family continues to follow today.
The Terre de la Custodia Montefalco Rosso is a choice for those who like a balanced, earthy style of wine, one that needs the companionship of food, as its tannic structure and acidity crave a rich dish to bring out its full spectrum of aromas and flavors. With the holidays in sight, give Montefalco Rosso a try for something different.