Castello di Bossi’s Girolamo Toscana IGT 2022 is a 100% Merlot from Castelnuovo Berardenga, at the southern edge of Chianti Classico. The wine is certified organic and comes from the Girolamo vineyard, a 15-acre site with clay-and-limestone soils, southern exposure, and elevation around 1,155 feet. The estate notes the cuvée is named for “the oldest Merlot vineyard planted at Bossi 50 years ago,” positioning it as a long-running, site-specific Merlot within a region better known for Sangiovese.
Winemaking details point to a modern, structured style. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel with a relatively warm 84–90°F fermentation over about 10 days, followed by extended maceration (25–30 days) and malolactic fermentation. Aging is substantial—18 to 24 months in a mix of Allier barriques (225L) and larger 50-hectoliter barrels, plus nine months in bottle. The 2022 is labeled at 14.5% alcohol, with pH 3.39, total acidity 6.11 g/L, and residual sugar under 1 g/L. Production is reported at 20,000 bottles.
In terms of flavor, the importer’s technical material frames 2022 as warm and sunny but “not overripe,” leaning into “dark cherry and dried blackberry with earthy tones and a hint of black licorice.” Their tasting note adds a darker-fruited aromatic profile—black raspberry, blackberry, blueberry—along with “sweet spice and vanilla,” plus accents of “chocolate and dried herbs,” finishing with “sweet, firm tannins” and a “long, fruit-laden finish.”
Two notably strong reviews are circulated via the importer. A 94-point review (quoted by Winebow; original outlet not identified) calls it “terrific” and “opulent, polished,” with “black cherry, liquorice, cloves, menthol and chocolate.” Another (92 points, also quoted by Winebow) emphasizes oak-derived detail—“sweet spice, nutmeg and cinnamon”—over “soft cherry fruit,” suggesting a wine built for medium-term enjoyment.
