| Producer | Praesidium |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Abruzzo |
| Varietal | Montepulciano |
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Sku | 1147625 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Tasting Notes: A Marianna (dedicated to Ottaviano and Antonia's grandmother), is not made every year. It comes from a 1-hectare selection of the estate's oldest vines, dating back to 1962. 2012 was characterized by a fresh Spring but a quite hot and dry Summer. Despite the drought conditions and low organic matter in the Peligna valley's rocky soil, the grapes did reach average size and were perfectly healthy, balanced, and silky. Harvest was from October 7th- 9th at extremely low yields of 3,000kg/ha (19 hl/ha). The grapes were destemmed, crushed, and spontaneously fermented between stainless steel, Slavonian oak tonneaux (650L) and French oak tonneaux (450L). Maceration lasted 13 days. The first 24 months of aging were in stainless steel, followed by an additional 42 months of aging Slavonian oak cask, with no new wood. Unfined/unfiltered.
Estate History: Praesidium is a 7-hectare estate in the Peligna Valley, the genetic birthplace of the Montepulciano grape. Enzo Pasquale, his wife Lucia, and their kids, Antonia and Ottaviano, are the last winegrowers of the village of Prezza. The village itself sits on a rocky outcropping that has a near-360° view of the surroundings. It makes sense, then, that the name Prezza comes from the Latin verb praeesse (to preside), and that the village was the “Praesidium” (defense garrison) of the Peligni tribe, an Italic people who eventually acquiesced to Rome. The Pasquales are a lovely close-knit family, quietly doing things their way without compromise, Organic and old-school, since 1988.
