Apparently there is some evidence that the woman who modeled for the famous namesake painting spent some time on the estate. Drawn from a selection of estate parcels including Vitigliano, Prato, and Querceto, this wine is reserved for stronger vintages. The vineyards lie on the left bank of the Greve River, where a mix of Sillano-derived soils—generally low in clay and limestone but rich in stones—provides good drainage and variability across sites. Pockets of pietraforte and galestro add further complexity to the growing conditions. Élevage is split between smaller French oak barriques and larger-format casks, with the wine spending close to two years in wood. It is then held back for additional maturation, including time in bottle, bringing the total aging period to around two and a half years before release. “2016 was the last vintage that we had as a normal, regular vintage. In 2018 the vines were recovering from the shock of 2017. We had some rain during Spring. In 2018, the emotion of the vintage [in the bottle] is more relaxed,” notes Lucia Minoggio, head of Press for Vignamaggio. There’s more wood and herbal nuance to the nose here than to be found on their Terre di Prenzano Classico offering, along with more concentrated black cherry and blue plum fruits, topped with grilled orange peel and tobacco notes. The palate is polished, elegant, and fresh; while there’s no denying those ripe, bursting cherry and redcurrant flavors, the blood orange acidity and dusty tannins really bring the mouthfeel into excellent focus. The finish is outstanding, lasting well over a minute and never once losing freshness for a second.