Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Ateo Sant'Antimo 2003

The bouquet is intense with vibrant herbal, spicy, and fruit-forward notes. Very well structured, full bodied, quite soft, and balanced with pronounced tannins. A wine with a great personality and long aftertaste.

Serve at 64 degrees F with appropriate companion to first courses featuring red meat and main dishes of roasted pork and lamb.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The origins of the Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona estate goes back to the 17th century. The oldest part of the property is the palazzo ("palace"), erected by Montalcino's bishop Fabivs de' Veecchis, Abbot of Sant'Antimo abbey. Over the course of time, the palazzo became the property of the Montalcino diocese and was auctioned according to Italian law regarding ecclesistic property. The palazzo and its lands were then purchased by Countess Eva Bernini Cerretani in 1868. In 1877, the countess sold the entire property to Francesco Ciacci. Then in the mid 1900s, the so-called Palazzo del Vescovo became known as Palazzo Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona after the marriage between the Piccolomini and Ciacci families. Today, the estate is managed by the Bianchini family.