Tenimenti Luigi d’Alessandro is located in Cortona in Arezzo province, Tuscany.
Owners: Two brothers from Rome called Francisco and Maximo D’Alessandro.
Background: Francisco and Maximo D’Alessandro’s father bought the estate in 1967. From 1985 Francisco and Maximo began experimenting by planting Viognier and Syrah based, having first researched the soils.
Villa: 18th-century villa, yellow facade.
Vineyards: 30 miles east of Siena, on the (high) plains below Cortona, near the Umbrian border of Lake Trasimeno. Recreating terraced vineyards here. Also 10ha at 8,500 vines per ha. | 1990-2002: 48 hectares of vines were planted at 7,000 vines per ha and 10 hectares at 8,500 vines per hectare.
White wines
Cortona Bianco DOC, Fontarca: 2001 60% Chardonnay (barrel fermented), 40% Viognier (stainless steel).
Red wines
Cortona Rosso DOC, Il Bosco: 1992 Debut. | 1997 96 points Wine Spectator. | 2002 Not made, wet year.
Cortona Rosso DOC, Vescovo II: A wine called Vesco used to be made in Cortona from Gamay, which was brought here by Napoleon’s troops. Tenimenti Luigi d’Alessandro produced a wine called Vescovo; but now Vescovo II is the second wine of Il Osco; both are 100% Syrah.
Sweet wines
Vin Santo: Fresher style, by being made without any ‘madre’. | 1993 Bottled. | 1994 Bottled.
Contact
Tenimenti Luigi d’Alessandro
Fraz Camucia, Via di Manzano 15, I-52042 Cortona (AR), Italy
Tel+39 0575.618667
Bibliography
James Suckling., Improving on Tradition, Wine Spectator Sept 30, 1997 p.36-59.