Lamborghini: The Final Lap

~ Panicale overlooks Lago di Trasimeno ~

In the Umbrian hills not far from the Tuscan border and Cortona, the lovely hill town of Castiglione del Lago sits on a promontory that juts out dramatically overlooking the lake.   On the opposite side lies picturesque Panicale and along the valley that stretches between, the Lamborghini Estate.

Recently, we spotlighted two wonderful reds from Lamborghini,  their 100% Montepulciano called Torami and a CellarNote date point on their flagship red Campoleone.   Today, we're publishing the final part of this series and examining one of the estate's newest releases.  

~ Castiglione del Lago ~

The 2010 Lamborghini Campoleone is a full bodied, brick house of a wine.   The vines that produce the fruit for Campoleone are now almost 50 years old;  a fact that easily explains the robust and structured nature they contribute to the final wine.  A blend of 50% Sangiovese and 50% Merlot, the grapes for each are vinified separately and aged 12 months in French barrique. Blended immediately before bottling by winemaker Riccardo Cotarella,  the wine then rests 6 months in bottle before being released to the market. 

This 2010 needs time and lots of it.  In the glass, the wine is a deep, vibrant red with a slight violet ring at the edge of the bowl.  Coaxed aromas include ripe cherry fruit and lots of leaf tobacco - a hint of toasty spice and a large wall of tannin.  On the palate, the wine displays a large framed structure of tannin backed by ample bright cherry fruit. Hints of tobacco leaf, toasted oak, and fresh mushroom emerge alongside the food. The acidity is balanced well and fresh but the tannins clamp down at the moment, shortening the finish.  First tasted with buffalo mozzarella and yellow roasted peppers, it was then served alongside rare ribeye steaks and escarole & beans. Delicious with the meat, which hints at its future, but again,  I recommend readers remain patient and based on my previous report on the 2006 linked above, cellar this wine for at least 5-7 years.  92 points.  SRP ~ $30.  Disclosure:  This bottle was an importer provided sample.

  

~ The 2010 Campoleone is a brick house ~

E vero!