Chianti Ruffina DOCG Riserva 2013

captureWe are only ten miles from the border of the province of Florence, right on the edge of the wine-production zone of Chianti Rùfina, the smallest and oldest sub-zone in the great family of Chianti zones. On one side lie the famous city of Florence and the valley of the Arno River with its warmer microclimate; on the other, the long valley that follows the course of the Sieve River, with the vineyards of the Chianti Rùfina appellation becoming ever more numerous.

The real history of I Veroni, like many other corners of Tuscany, is its feudal past, which began with a watchtower that was later incorporated into the sixteenth-century estate of the noble Tuscan family of Gatteschi. I Veroni possesses a total of 70 hectares of land, 20 of which is dedicated to vineyards and about 30 to olive groves.

The primary grape variety grown at I Veroni is of course Sangiovese, dditionally there are 2 hectares of the Canaiolo, Colorino, Malvasia and Trebbiano varieties, and small plantings of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Syrah.

Three wines fully express the philosophy and passion of the company: I Veroni Chianti Rùfina, Riserva, and Vin Santo.

i-veroni_chianti-rufina-riservaWe tasted: I Veroni Chianti Ruffina DOCG Riserva 2013

The impressive all-Sangiovese vineyard of St. Martin in Quona produces I Veroni Riserva. A 100% San Giovese grapes. The grapes are fermented in Oaks vats with ambient yeasts, followed by malolactic in 20hl oak ovals and maturation for 16-18 months in 500l French oak casks. The wine then receives a further ageing in the bottle for at least 10 months.

This wine has deep, luminous and purple-red. The nose is composed of black berryfruit, spice, liquorice taste of tobacco leaf and hint of oak. The palate presents a decided body with structure   well-integrated tannins, concluding with a long-lingering finish. For the food pairing is ideal with red meats, wild game, and aged cheeses.