Creating Villa Giustinian

The Dietro le Quinte dei Grandi Vini (Behind the Scenes of Great Wines) event at Castello di Roncade was repeated and has now become an annual affair.

The event created for Castello di Roncade by Umberto Trobelli in 2018, with the backing and support of the Cian Bassetti family, saw its second edition in January 2020.

This was an authentic upgrade and improvement making the event more exciting and involving than before.

For those of you who did not know, Dietro le Quinte is a tasting of vat and barrel samples that may be used for the Bordeaux blend of Villa Giustinian, the feather in the cap of Barone Cian Bassetti’s production.

Absolutely everything is made known about the wines in question: the volumes available, varietals, vineyards, barrel sizes and data regarding acidity, alcohol and pH levels. Once all the samples have been tasted, the game begins… to select the wines that will compose the Villa Giustinian blend.

The rules are as follows: not all the samples have to be used; the total amount must be sufficient to produce around 25,000 bottles; the wine, while a product of the harvest, must maintain its integrity in regard to style and origin.

The aim of this game is not just to have fun (even if I really enjoyed myself both times) but to offer a unique opportunity to understand, as never before, a wine close up, comprehend it and, thus, appreciate it even more and in an intimate way.

The Villa Giustinian style: after having tasted its more recent vintages (and even some earlier ones directly from the Barone’s personal collection, like the 1995) and having literally seen the last two vintages being created thanks to this initiative, I can describe it as a wine attached to territorial tradition. While it is true that it is not composed of native varietals (except for a very small percentage of Raboso), this wine has been produced for the past 70 years and the French varietals have found a decidedly welcoming habitat in this area. The soils are for the most part poor and not too deep, distinguished by the presence of caranto, a compact clay-sand chalk that is very important and gives the wine its finesse, long life and elegance.

Villa Giustinian needs to age long in the bottle. It begins rich in aromas with fruity, toasted and spice scents.  All its elements are upheld by a significant tannic structure, body and acidity. This is a complex wine but at the same time it must meet the tastes of an international public and thus be pleasing to drink.

As for vintage 2018, the one we “constructed” together last January, I can say it was the product of a harvest in which the ripeness of the grapes did not disappoint. There were many fruity but also floral aromas, the acidity was very interesting, especially in some of the samples, along with a distinct salinity, which also depended a lot on the soil. While it is too early to evaluate Villa Giustinian 2018. I can say that the blends selected by the enologist (who has the final word while ours were only suggestions) had few dominating aromas but they were very well defined. There was ripe, dark fruit, like blackberry, a lovely freshness and a body that was so taut it almost seemed light (but judging by the analysis data, “light” it was not).

This year’s event also offered an opportunity to taste the now bottled 2017, the first Villa Giustinian we saw being born. I couldn’t wait to meet it again… and this is what it was like!

Villa Giustinian 2017 

92/100 - € 25,00

A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Carmenere and 50% Merlot and Raboso matured for 12 months in oak barrels of various sizes. The wine has an intense, ruby color with cherry-red reflections. The nose is both delicate and intense, floral and citrusy. The flavor has a persistent note of citrus peel and a freshness that runs from blood orange to pomegranate along with some hints of rhubarb and green peppercorn. The mouthfeel is salty and vertical, with an excellent persistence. Very young, to be enjoyed in time.

I also had the opportunity to taste the Bianco dell’Arnassa 2010, Castello di Roncade’s Chardonnay. It stands out with its scents of candied citron and bergamot, while the flavor had a sensation of lemon leaf and the mouthfeel was above all salty, fresh and taut. Its evolved notes from aging made it very intriguing.

Looking ahead to the next edition, I’d like to thank Vincenzo and Claudio Ciani Bassetti, Umberto Trombelli and the always impeccable hospitality of Castello di Roncade, an exclusive and suggestive location.

Related Products