What is Talamo
The winery Terre di Talamo, part of the family business Bacci Wines, boasts an exceptional cuvée called Talamo. This wine, which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah, is classified as a Gran Toscana.
Talamo has been a stalwart of our range for several years now and we have experience with the 2016 to 2019 vintages. Whatever the vintage, Talamo is always one of the best we have to offer and we are happy to return to it. Recently, however, we had the opportunity to sample something completely new.
On 15 June 2022, winemaker Marco Bacci of Terre di Talamo winery unveiled his latest attempt to push the boundaries of winemaking - Talamo a Mare. This is a wine that has spent a whole year maturing under the sea.
What led Marco to this unusual experiment? Like all brilliant ideas, this one was born by chance. One day he discovered a bottle of wine that had been forgotten in the galley of his sailboat. When he opened it, he was surprised at how different the taste and aroma were from the bottles he had opened on land. And so Talamo a Mare was born.
THE SECRET OF AGING WINE UNDER THE SEA
The magic with the sea and the wine took place on the Argentario coast, where nine cages containing around 9,000 carefully selected bottles of wine were placed at a depth of 35 metres below sea level. The ocean, with its continuous movements, constant temperature of 16 degrees and constant pressure of 4.5 bar, provides ideal conditions for ageing wine that are not found on land.
The movements of the sea are proving to be a significant factor here. Thanks to the constant sea currents, the bottles are in endless motion, reminiscent of a cradle. Pressure does not play a role at this point, as the bottles are fitted with glass stoppers with silicone seals to ensure that not a drop of seawater gets in.
The packaging of Talamo a Mare is a real work of art. Each bottle is concealed in a wooden box and covered with traces left by marine animals, adding to its uniqueness. An elegant aluminium plate engraved with the name of the wine, Talamo a Mare, adorns each bottle. And as the icing on the cake, the package also includes a numbered certificate with detailed information and a map showing where the bottle was deposited in the sea.
HOW DOES THE TASTE OF TALAMO AND TALAMO A MARE DIFFER?
I've always been a little sceptical about the idea that the way a wine is stored could have any major effect on its flavour - unless we're talking about extremely unsuitable conditions such as high temperature or exposure to light and sun. Still, the opportunity presented itself to test the supposed small difference myself, and so I embarked on a comparative tasting.
We were all absolutely amazed by the results. Both the land-aged Talamo and the Talamo a Mare samples were from the 2018 vintage. The Talamo a Mare was significantly rounder and riper than its land-based counterpart. For interest, we also tried the traditional Talamo from the 2016 vintage, and even in this comparison, the "marine" variant was slightly more mature.
Of course, it is not possible that we were the first to compare the two wines. There even seems to be a consensus in this regard. For reference, for example, you can visit Talamo a Mare: The underwater resting place of a thousand expressions refined 35 metres under the sea. - WinesCritic.
IS TALAMO A MARE WORTH IT?
Before we get into the evaluation of whether Talamo a Mare is worth it, it is important to understand what actually distinguishes this wine from the classic Talamo. Talamo a Mare is a wine that has undergone a year of aging in bottles submerged thirty-five metres below sea level. This unusual ageing method is said to create a distinctive flavour profile that is not possible to achieve with traditional ageing methods.
Another factor to consider when deciding on the value of Talamo a Mare is its price. Talamo a Mare is usually more expensive than its traditional counterpart. However, this higher price may be entirely appropriate if you are looking for a unique and premium wine that has been aged in this unique way.
The decision to invest in Talamo and Mare depends on personal preference. If you appreciate unique and quality wines, or are looking for a valuable gift for wine lovers, then Talamo a Mare may be the right choice.
What about you? Does anyone have experience with a similar comparison? I'd be happy if you share your insights.
Zdenek Bínek
30.8.2023
Odkazy
- Talamo na ZEBRA WINES
- Talamo a Mare IGT ma ZEBRA WINES
- Terre di Talamo, vinařství na dně moře (video)