Lazio ~ Cesanese
CESANESE the name DERIVES from Cesena, the city of origin of a Benedictine friar who brought the first cuttings to these areas or, again, from the town of Cesano, a small town in the province of Rome.
Whatever the etymology, this grape can be considered indigenous to Lazio. Initially widespread around the Castelli Romani, today its cultivation is concentrated mainly in the province of Rome and neighboring municipalities in the province of Frosinone. The two main biotypes are the common Cesanese and the Cesanese di Affile, quite similar from a genetic point of view.
Products
There are three denominations that contemplate the two biotypes of the pure vine: Cesanese di Affile, Cesanese di Olevano Romano and Cesanese del Piglio. In 2008, the latter became the first DOCG in Lazio and the only one made from red berried grapes. Cesanese wines have a compact ruby red color with a tendency to garnet which becomes more pronounced with ageing. On the nose, Cesanese wines are delicate with sensations of wild berries (blackberry and blueberry), morello cherry, spices and violet. On the palate the Cesanese wines are generally warm, soft, not very tannic, slightly bitter and with an almond finish, intense and with an excellent structure. The alcohol content is around 14%-15% vol.
