Through just two labels, Niccolò Marzichi Lenzi tells the concentrated story of Tenuta Campo di Sasso and Tenuta di Biserno, a winemaking project that began in 2000 and involves three members of the Antinori family: brothers Piero and Lodovico, Niccolò's uncles, as he is the son of their third sister. Tenuta di Biserno is located in Alta Maremma, specifically in the municipality of Bibbona, bordering Bolgheri. It had no vineyards, which were planted in 2000, covering about 40 hectares at an altitude of 90 meters above sea level, cultivated with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. We are on the Tuscan coast, where there is a high quality of life and a great winemaking tradition that makes this part of the region a bit like Bolgheri's younger sister, which has benefited from a longer history dedicated to wine. It is hoped that Bibbona will make the same great leap in quality, similar to its territory. Tenuta Campo di Sasso covers 56 hectares and consists of complex soils with different exposures compared to Tenuta di Biserno. The sandier soils enjoy a warmer climate, making them ideal for cultivating Syrah and Vermentino, in addition to Bordeaux grape varieties. The Insoglio del Cinghiale, the founding wine, is born in its vineyards.
Tenuta di Biserno and Campo di Sasso are two realities also known abroad; already in 2004, Insoglio del Cinghiale was brought to the United States, a slightly more herbaceous Syrah that has always been appreciated and easily sold, distributed in 50 countries, offering excellent value for money. The wild boar on the Insoglio label is an animal alluding to the production area, Maremma; it is a spirited animal, as well as being highly appreciated at the table. We are therefore faced with a decisive wine, and the 2020 vintage confirms this. The long growing season has produced smooth wines, bringing out the spice of Syrah and the fleshiness of the other varieties that compose it without weighing it down.
"Il Pino di Biserno Toscana IGT Rosso 2019 is a frank and direct expression of its terroir, Bibbona. 'The 2018 and 2019 vintages are great vintages that have been very popular on the market,' says Roberta of Compagnia del Vino, which handles the distribution of these and many other wines from established brands in the Italian market. Climatically opposite vintages, but with the vinification system for this Bordeaux blend now codified and well-managed wood, they make this wine an intriguing classic. The grapes ferment in truncated conical vats, and after malolactic fermentation in barriques for 25% of the volume, aging lasts one year in new and second-passage French barriques, while 10% of the volume remains in steel. It refines for six months in the bottle. It releases a wide range of aromas: spices, fig leaves, myrtle, and fruits like tamarind, dried plums, raisins, and tobacco. The entry is characterized by a decisive tannic astringency; it is fresh and integrated, long, an elegant sip of which 25,000 bottles are produced.