The Cascina Castle T Estate
Cascina Castle’T, a family estate owned by Maria Borio, is located South of Torino in the Piedmonte region, 300 meters above sea level. The property was built in the 1600s.
The Cascina Castle T Vineyards
The 10 hectares (24.7 acres) of vineyards are located on the cooler hills of the Langhe area on the sides of the Belbo Valley near Canelli.
The vineyard for Barbera d'Asti is planted in clay and limestone soils and situated on a south western exposure, lying at about 300 meters above sea level. The vines are an average of 40-50 years old. There are 5,000 vines per hectare and the vineyard is kept fully covered with grass. Most of the vineyards are planted with Barbera except for a small plot planted with Moscato. All the production is strictly organic with a low yield, less than 30 hl/ha.
The vineyard for Moscato d'Asti is rich in clay and is on a south east exposure, lying at about 200 meters above sea level. The vines are an average of 15 years old.
No products found
Tenuta di Arceno Valadorna is made from 60% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot .
The first impression of the nose is earthy with notes of cypress, vanilla bean, and spice. There are deep fruit flavors of black cherries, plums and blueberries followed by pleasant hints of chocolate and dried rose petals. On the palate, the tannins are chewy and accompanied by lively acidity; contributing to a long finish dominated by flavors of dried figs and licorice. The 2016 Valadorna is a time bomb of joy that will stand the test of time and age well in the cellar if patience permits.
This Merlot-led blend is sourced primarily from the Valadorna and Capraia blocks, which produce the estate’s most complex and mineral-based expressions of this variety. The blocks are located within the cooler part of the estate, naturally irrigated by the stream that undulates through it, and feature sandy brown soils and lower yields than typical. These blocks are often the last Merlot blocks to ripen on the estate.
Review:
Solid and radiant in the glass it shows notes of pink grapefruit, flowering geraniums, pressed blueberries, plums and rosemary. There is more in the background in the brightness of the lemon, lime and bergamot notes. Full body, well-polymerized tannins that are decidedly vibrant and tense at the moment and an impressive long finish that will relax over time. Better from 2024.
-Raffaele Vecchione - WinesCritic.com 96 Points