Cantine Riccardi Reale Collepazzo Cesanese 2015

Collepazzo is made from 100% Cesanese di Affile grown on Colle Pazzo (Crazy Hill) in Olevano Romano, about 45 kilometers east of Rome. The vineyards sit at 300 meters elevation and contain two distinct soil types side by side: red volcanic earth and white Cretaceous sandstone. Grapes from each soil type are harvested separately, then blended to make this cuvee, which represents the full expression of the hill rather than a single parcel.

Fermentation is spontaneous with indigenous yeasts, with no added substances at any stage. The wine spends 10 months aging in cement tanks followed by 6 months of bottle rest before release. The approach in the cellar mirrors what happens in the vineyard: minimal intervention, no filtration, no additions.

The estate is certified organic by Suolo e Salute Lazio and also follows biodynamic practices, using green manure and organic vegetable preparations to maintain soil fertility. Vines are trained using local chestnut poles, a traditional method still practiced in this part of Lazio.

Cesanese di Affile is a small-berried subvariety considered superior in quality to the more common Cesanese Comune. It is a late-ripening grape that produces wines with bright red fruit, floral lift, earthy depth, and lively acidity when grown at altitude on varied soils like those at Colle Pazzo.