Ascencio is named in honor an age-old tale about XVIth century Italian poet Francesco Petrarca who claimed to be the first person since ancient times to climb Mont Ventoux for the simple pleasure of discovery. While the reality of this story is doubtful, Ascencio is certainly not. This dark and luscious Grenache wine has a deep purple, almost black, coloring and a fruity, earthy and rich aromatic nature. The flavor is full-bodied and concentrated with a touch of peppered berries and refreshingly ripe and velvety tannins. A few hours of aeration in the decanter is recommended but is a small price to pay to unlock this rare creature’s potential.