Fedespina: a Lunigiana Pinot Nero

Fedespina was created with vintage 2016, a Pinot Nero di Toscana made from the 40-year-old vines of Podere Fedespina.

Several years ago I wrote about the small Podere Fedespina estate of Antonio Farina and his wife Mirta in Alta (Upper) Lunigiana, between the regions of Tuscany and Liguria. It is located not far from Pontremoli in Mulazzo (in the province of Massa Carrara), on the right bank of the Magra River where the hills rise up towards the Monti Lunigiani, an area that since 1164 was part of the marquisate of the Malaspina dello Spino Secco family.

Up until recently, the production of this small winery centered on Merlot: Ca’, a single varietal wine matured in wood, and Spinorosso which has a small addition of Ciliegiolo fermented and matures in cement vats. Then several years ago Antonio acquired another two hectares of vineyards on the other side of the river that sit at an altitude of 160m above sea level and have an alluvial soil of mostly clay but with 15% sand. The vineyards had been planted 40 years earlier to produce a sparkling wine with the varietals Pinot Nero, Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco plus some local Durella, a grape with a high acidity. The Pinot Nero was a surprise for Antonio because he was convinced he had bought vineyards with only white wine grapes. However, thanks to the enthusiasm of enologist Fracesco Petaccohe decided to make a single grape Pinot Nero. The climatic conditions were favorable for this with as much as 20°C temperature variations and thanks to the old vines that produced some wonderful grapes even if the yield was very low.

The first Fedespin was a vintage 2015, a Pinot Nero di Toscana that was presented last Tuesday at a preview tasting. Also offered was a barrel sampling of vintage 2016, which already demonstrates its great balance and significant intensity.

A curiosity: the name on the label is written dipping a brush in the dregs of the Pinot Nero grapes.

Podere Fedespina
Owner: Antonio Farina e Mirta Fedespina
Località Bosco Arpiola, 1 
54026 Mulazzo (MS)
Tel. +39 0187 439610
info@poderefedespina.it
www.poderefedespina.it
Facebook: Podere-Fedespina

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