Italo Cescon, Cabernet 2021

A blend of the two Cabernets, this is a ripe and juicy red that is bright and refined, delivering typicity in both its expression of origin and of grape varieties. A very refined style of Cabernet, with all the dark fruits present and correct, a lovely lick of spice from barrel aging in big vats, and a really charming, bright and contained style that is so much part of the north-east of Italy.

Made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc, this hand-harested wine is a classy, food-friendly, engaging and approachable wine that has helped the Cescon family establish themselves and the region of the eastern Veneto as causes for serious respect. These grapes are grown in three disticnt zones, Fagarè, Vallonto and Fontanelle, on clayey alluvial soils, giving the perfect opportunity for ripening of both Cabernet.

The heritage of this wine, and that of the Cescon winery, is based in all things growing, as seen by the vine twig, or tralcetto in Italian, tied around the neck of the bottle. This physical representation of vineyard authenticity was first done by Italo's mother, Anna, in 1957 and has become the recognised feature of their wines since.

But was it really the first bottle to have a piece of the winter-pruned vines tied around its neck? See, there is a contention here - this is that the other 'Twig' wine from Abruzzo is made by a family that claim to be the first to do this. Honestly, we can't see and reason that there is a benefit other than marketing, because from a wine quality perspective, it seriously doesn't matter. However, it goes without saying that the two families most certainly don't send each other Christmas cards. It's a bit of handbags and though there are two wineries that do it, they are based in totally different parts of the Italian peninsula and the wines are remarkably different.