Sator Gran Maestro is Cianfagna's exceptional Tintilia selection from Molise, produced only when the vintage supports the style. Late-picked fruit gives the wine its richness, while the Sator name refers to the historic word square. This mature bottling is an intriguing choice for lovers of rare regional Italian reds.
- Aromas: Dark fruit, liquorice and pepper lead, with herbal nuances adding a savoury lift to the wine's richer aromatic character.
- Palate: Opulent and smooth, with concentrated fruit and a broad texture. The palate has warmth and depth, supported by a frame suited to substantial food.
- Style: A full-bodied, powerful Tintilia with a mature, layered personality and an emphasis on carefully selected, late-picked fruit.
- Winemaking: Made in limited quantities from selected Tintilia grapes, harvested late for concentration. The winemaking includes fermentation in steel followed by wood maturation, helping integrate its rich fruit and structure.
- Cellaring: A mature vintage for drinking now. Store in a cool and dark location. Before opening stand upright to settle sediment, and taste before choosing gentle decanting or further aeration.
- Food Pairing: Braised lamb, slow-cooked beef, game dishes or mature hard cheese; keep the food flavourful enough to match its generous palate.
For someone who already knows the famous Italian reds, Gran Maestro offers a fascinating detour. A little-known grape, a small regional estate and a mature vintage give you plenty to talk about. Open it when you can take your time and make dinner part of the discovery. Serve slightly cool, taste before deciding on decanting, and give the wine time to develop in the glass.
Cianfagna
In the hills of Acquaviva Collecroce, Cianfagna offers a compelling introduction to Molise, one of Italy’s smallest and least familiar wine regions. The family’s agricultural history reaches back to around 1860, while the modern winery began in 1999 when Vincenzo Cianfagna took over from his father Pasquale. An agronomist with a strong connection to the land, Vincenzo made local identity the guiding principle of the project. Tintilia is the principal grape, with Aglianico also grown on the estate’s hillside vineyards.
Tintilia gives Cianfagna its distinctive voice. The flagship Tintilia wine, called Sator, presents the variety through ripe cherry and dark berry flavours, warmth and a generous texture, while Pietrafitta explores a firmer, more structured expression. Gran Maestro is reserved for exceptional vintages, offering a more concentrated interpretation. This is a small family producer whose fascination comes from focus: careful vineyard work, a rare regional grape and wines that make Molise feel worth discovering. For drinkers who enjoy expressive southern Italian reds, Cianfagna brings both immediate appeal and the pleasure of finding a name outside the usual spotlight.
