This is the estate’s flagship wine, first produced in 1993. It takes its name from a local hill known for a prevalence of wolves (‘lupi’ meaning wolves, ‘aia’ meaning area). The biggest of all the Castello del Terricio wines, this is muscular, complex and full-bodied, a wine made for aging and savouring slowly when the time of opening finally arrives. This meticulously sorted and selected blend emulates the Bordeaux style, dominant in Cabernet Sauvignon and with varying proportions of Merlot and Petit Verdot. The Cabernet grows on soils rich in iron, providing the wine with its ferrous qualities and robust structure. Maturation is in a combination of new French oak barrique and tonneaux.
2017
“Bright ruby with a slight purple sheen. Opens with emphatically earthy notes of black truffle and graphite, then cassis liqueur and elderberries emerge. Grippy tannins in many layers on the palate are interwoven with fine texture and create plenty of drive. The finish is cassis-scented.” 95 points, Falstaff
92 points, Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
2015
“In the 2015 Lupicaia, the percentage of Petit Verdot used in the blend was reduced slightly in favor of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This vintage is beautiful, generous and full. Aged for 18 to 24 months in new French oak, there are some lovely balsamic notes in here but not too much wood. The wine flows forth with abundant dark fruit, black cherry and spice.” 96 points, Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
2013
“Opens with notes of tar and graphite, then dark currant and blackberry, seems very balanced. Lots of finely-meshed, polished tannin, salty, shows very good depth, long finish, has developed and opened up very nicely since the last tasting in 2018.” 95 points, Falstaff
93 points, Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
2012
“Evolved or balsam notes have already begun to appear in the 2012 Lupicaia. There is even a button-mushroom note and more minerality in the mouth with lingering notes of licorice and smoke. The wine possesses an incredible softness and plumpness and pours out loads of mature fruit. The 2012 vintage is very ripe but not overripe. It is well contained and well balanced overall.” 93 points, Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
2011
“The wine shows green notes of grilled herb and a sharper, more defined level of fruit intensity. The wine is profound and deep. The tannins are very well integrated, and the wine shows a vertical softness that makes this vintage stand out from the rest.” 94 points, Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
