Casale della Ioria is a renowned winery, considered to be the most influential in the 1000-year-old region of Ciociaria in Lazio, Italy. They are the undisputed kings of the Cesanese del Piglio area, and their success is generations deep, with a start in 1921. Paolo Perinelli took over the winery in 1982 and is responsible for the esteemed DOCG status that the area now enjoys. The property is located in the commune of Acuto, sitting atop a hill overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, at an altitude of about 400 meters. The estate is a stunningly beautiful property of forests, olive trees, and vines, and is dedicated to organic farming. The land is kept as natural as possible, with animals allowed to graze and roam freely, and biodiversity encouraged to create a unique ecosystem. The acidic clay soils of the estate range in color like an earth rainbow, from bright yellow browns to deep chocolate hues and vibrant reds, imparting unique influences to the grapes that grow. Although they specialize in Cesanese d'Affile, they also cultivate small plantings of the stunning Olivella Nera, the fresh local white grape Passerina, and the complex Bellone.
casale della ioria 'colle bianco'
100% passerina The Casale della Ioria ‘Colle Bianco’ is the estate’s bright and crisp white wine that showcases the local Passerina grape in 100% form. The grapes grow on the gorgeous red and white clay soils of this farm and see a green pruning to focus this variety’s healthy growth. Before harvest, grapes are taken to create a pied de cuve for the wine, where the heathy natural yeasts thrive and assist the main harvest with a strong and healthy natural fermentation in stainless steel (which lasts about 10 – 15 days typically). The wine does not go through malo and is racked into tank with just the fine lees and remains there for at least 3 months before bottling. The resulting wine has lovely aromatics of honeysuckle, waxy lime, raw honey, and lemon-thyme, and leads to a fresh and exuberant palate that is remarkably easy drinking. The mouth is clean and balanced with its moderate acidity, packed with white peach, crisp green apple, stoney minerals, and an almond blossom finish. 
casale della ioria 'campo novo'
100% cesanese d'affile The Campo Novo is a vibrant yet remarkably complex version of the famous Cesanese grape that comes from the hilly land of Ciociaria in Lazio. The estate’s younger vines (15 years) are harvested and spend about 15 days on the skins in steel fermenting with its own natural pied de cuve and receive punch downs daily. Once the grapes are gently pressed, it continues its ferment (about 3 weeks in total) and then goes through natural ML. The wine is racked once and remains on fine lees for about one year before being bottled. The resulting wine is built to express the youthful side of the grape and has a wildly exuberant nose of tiny garden strawberries, wild blackberries, violets, fresh tar, and fresh berry cobbler. In the mouth, brambly fruit hits up front (blackberry, sour cherry, tiny blueberries, juicy plums) but goes straight into loads of amaro spices (juniper, thyme, mountain pine) to compliment the grippy tannins while staying very fresh on its feet. |
casale della ioria 'espero'
100% olivella nera The ‘Espero’ is truly a one-of-a-kind wine, as it may be the only wine dedicated to the remarkably rare Olivella Nera grape of Lazio. Paolo discovered it from a farmer deep in the mountains that had a particular local horse that he was wanting to buy, and he ended up brining plantings of this unique native variety back home! The plot of grapes is about 15 years old and sees a green harvest to keep the fruit well-focused, and then comes to the cellar, is destemmed, and ferments in steel tank with its own natural pied de cuve. The ferment takes about 15 days, seeing daily punch downs, and is then gently pressed. Once malo is finished, the wine is racked and remains on its fine lees with sporadic agitation while aging for 6 months before bottling. The finished wine is dynamic, spicy, and so fresh and enjoyable. The nose reads almost like a Syrah, with high tones of blackberry, black cherry, black pepper, black olives, and lilacs, but has something distinct about it keeps it Italian. The palate is juicy, with amazing acidity and tannins to match, full of fresh tart fruits, Sichuan pepper, cinchona bark, purple flowers, and small, lovely blackberries. Very expressive and very delicious. 
casale della ioria 'tenuta della ioria'
100% cesanese d'affile The Tenuta della Ioria is the estate’s premier Cesanese to showcase their terroir and deft hand with this unique and fantastic grape. The fruit is selected from several red clay plots of vines, brought to the cellar, and fermented in stainless steel with its own pied de cuve. After about 15 days on skins, with both punch downs and pump overs, the grapes are pressed and continue fermentation for another couple of weeks. It is then racked into large 2000-liter Slavonia oak barrels (each barrel is regenerated every 15 years) and remains on the fine lees for a year. After a light filtration, the wine is bottled and laid to rest for at least 6 months before released to the market. The resulting wine is remarkably elegant, refined, complex, and well-built for aging. In the nose, heady spices compliment the dark black cherry, mountain blueberry, and purple plum fruit, backed with hints of rose pedals, white pepper, and cinnamon. In the mouth, the texture is soft and silky, but with a firm grip of tannin and acid, complex with black fruits, cassis, floral notes, and earthy spice. |