Awarded by national and international critics, the Barbiglione of Usiglian del Vescovo is a beautiful international red wine, the result of a blend of Syrah, 75%, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. A wine of great character that is not surprising for its ability to snatch excellent scores from the most severe judges. Aiming for excellence, however, is not for everyone and requires perfect organization. To produce Barbiglione, for example, the grapes must be carefully selected. Only the best bunches, those that have reached full maturity, can be sent for vinification. For this reason, the harvest is always carried out by hand and before entering the cellar each bunch of grapes is carefully checked on a sorting belt. Then the vinification takes place in steel, at a controlled temperature, and the malolactic fermentation is carried out in cement containers. This is followed by the classic ageing in new barriques and tonneaux for a period of no less than 12 months. All this results in an intense and rich wine. A nice red that is in no hurry to finish in our glass and that knows it can age for a long time, even more than 5 or 6 years, without running the risk of looking tired.
That of Usiglian del Vescovo is one of the most compelling stories we have ever heard. Dating back to the Middle Ages, it was a feud of the bishops of Lucca and the subject of continuous claims by the Republic of Pisa. It then passed under the control of Florence in 1406 until, in 1495, the inhabitants of Pisa occupied the castle, putting the Florentine command on the run. Since then, until the entry of the current ownership in 2001, the leadership of the estate has changed hands several times. It has recently been the focus of a major redevelopment project involving 22 hectares of Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay and Viognier vineyards, as well as 10 hectares of olive groves. The ageing cellar, obtained from the original medieval feud, houses barrels of medium and large capacity.
Tuscany 
