Type of wine: Rosso Toscana IGT
Grapes: 100% merlot
Vintage: 2006
Alcool: 14 %
Production: 3.334 bottles

Type of ground: clayey rich of skeleton (Galestro)
Altitude of vineyards: 293 metres a.s.l.
Age of vineyards: 10 years
Facing: south
Growth system: single spur pruned cord
Plant density: 5.000 plants/ha
Medium yield for stub: 0,500 kg/plant
Grape yield: 25 qt/ha
Vintage period: first half of September

Description: Toscana IGT Merlot 100%. An uncompromising wine, definitely Merlot but with all the flavours and charm of Tuscany. Rich deep ruby red colour leads to perfumes of ripe berries and cherries. Produced from high density vineyards with 5,000 vines per ha. Strict pruning limits the yield to just 2,500 litres of wine per ha. which is very low indeed. Initial flavours are of intense but smooth stained tannins, a good firm acidity confirms the considerable maturation potential of this wine. FSM can definitely be enjoyed when released, usually when it is at least 3 years old, further cellarage however will definitely enhance all the wine's characteristics.

Wine-making and refining: The first available vintage was 2004, however a very limited quantity of 2003 was released on a purley experimental basis.
The FSM project was born in 1994 when John Matta identified the need for a totally new wine. The estate was already producing a highly acclaimed 100% Sangiovese (Vigna La Prima) but John Matta new that something else was needed.

Three grape varieties were considered and studied, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
The final choice fell to Merlot, considerations regarding Castello Vicchiomaggio's microclimate, exposition and soil (heavy clay) all pointed to this grape variety.

A plot of four hectares was  selected and land preparation began in 1996.
Care and attention to vineyards during their first years is crucial, to avoid being rushed it was decided to plant over five years, from 1999 to 2003 inclusive.

Accepted wisdom states that quality wine comes from older vines, FSM however is  produced from young vines, a fact that John Matta likes to make known.
Heavy pruning and very low yields are the tecniques being used to counter the natural vigour of young vines, assuring  high quality.

The first very small harvest was from 2003, the bottles were mainly used to taste and evaluate and very few were actually sold commercialy.
Vintage 2004 produced a very well balanced crop and the wine received Itay's coveted Tre Bicchieri from the Gambero Rosso, exceptional for a wine produced from five year old vines

NOTES:

FSM: The initials of John Matta's father, Federico Secondo Matta. FS Matta was born in a small hill village, Tonengo, near the town of Asti in Piemonte in 1891. He emigrated to London and in 1921 set up a wine import business. The company became  the  largest Italian wine specialist in Britain and was sold to a large conglomerate in 1966.  Then totally unknow Italian brands such as Campari, Bolla, Santa Margherita, Corvo, Gancia, San Pellegrino water and many more were turned into market leaders.