Tag Archives: Chianti

I Sodi del Paretaio by Badia di Morrona

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Badia di Morrona’s classic expression of its terroir in its Chianti 2022 and Chianti Riserva 2020 versions 

I Sodi del Paretaio and I Sodi del Paretaio Riserva are the standard-bearer Chiantis of Badia di Morrona, representing a lateral overview of the vineyards in this historic estate in Terricciola. Here, in Pisa’s eastern hill country, the Gaslini Alberti family cultivates about 110 hectares of vineyard, and I Sodi del Paretaio, in both the standard current-vintage and the Riserva versions, are pleasant and comprehensive interpretations of their entire valley terroir.

Both versions’ sovereign grape is Sangiovese, grown in vineyards continuously groomed by winds from the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea that both keep the vines dry and temper the summer’s heat. The vineyards are planted deep into clay-based soils that also show alternations of sandstone, rock, grey schist, river cobbles, fossil shells, and alberese marl.

Chianti I Sodi del Paretaio 2022,a cuvée of Sangiovese with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, interprets the hallmarks of a particularly hot dry growing year. These weather conditions affected crop quantity but not grape quality, since the Badia di Morrona viticultural team managed the weather challenges through painstaking ground-working and expert agronomic practices, with the result that berry development was optimal, with good concentrations and aromatic precursors. Complementing their efforts were rains in mid-August and significant day-night temperature variations.

Blend-leader Sangiovese was harvested in mid-September. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks and a subsequent 10-month maturation in traditional concrete vats helped to preserve the nice fruit aromas classic to this wine.

On the other hand, the 100% Sangiovese Chianti I Sodi del Paretaio Riserva 2020 was the offspring of an overall balanced year. The early pace of the growth cycle was partly offset by rains in the final 15-20 days of the season that supplied water to the Sangiovese and somewhat slowed ripening. Harvest took place around 25 September, with the fruit perfectly sound and healthy. 18 months in 44hl French oak ovals and a brief stay in concrete vats before bottling resulted in a Riserva boasting a smooth, enfolding suite of tannins.

I Sodi del Paretaio 2022 and I Sodi del Paretaio Riserva 2020 are debuting on the market this year with a new label. The graphic motifs that have always made these wines standout visually have been updated in a minimalist key, more in tune with the striving for elegance and expressiveness that, season after season, inspires the wine estate.

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Badia di Morrona, located in Terricciola, between Pisa and Volterra, has been owned by the Conti Gaslini Alberti family for almost a century. The heart of the estate is the ancient monastery, Badia di Morrona. The iconic grape is Sangiovese, planted in more than half of the vineyards, with the remainder in Vermentino, Chardonnay, Viognier, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet. This viticultural wealth yields a well-integrated collection of wines, which boasts coveted crus such as VignaAlta and N’Antia, of Sangiovese and Bordeaux varieties respectively, and Taneto, the quintessence of Badia di Morrona’s Syrah. The Chianti denomination is well-represented of course, with I Sodi del Paretaio in both standard and Riserva versions. The wine portfolio is compellingly complemented by a welcoming hospitality programme: distributed throughout the estate are large, meticulously-restructured farm residences that are perfect departure points for leisurely exploring this still little-known world in Tuscany.

Chianti Classico 2020 and Riserva 2019

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Eloquent expressions of a distinctive terroir: Castello di Querceto

At Castello di Querceto, the growing conditions of 2020 and 2019 allowed us, more than in recent seasons, to fashion wines that were eloquently expressive of the terroir of this historic wine estate and in particular wines that displayed the vibrant crispness and depth classic to this distinctive spot lying at elevations of over 400 metres on the highest hills of Greve in Chianti.

Chianti Classico 2020 is fruit of a growing season that was hot but with below-average night-time temperatures. Plentiful rainfall in May and June fortunately topped up groundwater reserves to enable the vines to cope with summer conditions, but it was the day-night temperature ranges that brought the clusters to optimal ripeness and aromatic development. The crop came in slightly less than the norm, but the resultant wines, carefully vinified for 8 months in steel and concrete, have emerged with exceptional structure and acidity.

As for Chianti Classico Riserva, the 2019 growing year was more gradual and balanced. A fairly dry June delayed veraison some two weeks, beyond mid-August, in fact, but the rains, limited though they were, kept conditions to the historical norm, so that cluster development was thoroughly satisfactory. Gorgeous weather in September and October allowed us to push back the start of harvest, and the high quality of the Sangiovese reflected that gift. The wine fermented and macerated in steel some two weeks, followed by 12 months’ maturation in large oak ovals. The overall result is an elegant, intense expression of Castello di Querceto that presages many sensory surprises over the years to come.     

“Thanks to the zonation studies carried out since the 1970s,” stated Castello di Querceto producer Alessandro François, “we now have an in-depth understanding of the characteristics and expressive properties of our vineyards. They lie at elevations higher than the Chianti average, and the soils are rich in polychrome schists, manganese and iron, and earth-alkaline metals. All these factors play an important role in ensuring lively acidities and supple tannins in our wines, qualities emblematic of Castello di Querceto and evident in both these expressions of Chianti Classico and Chianti Classico Riserva.”

To these gifts of nature must be added the François family’s intimate familiarity with its estate Sangiovese, after a full 125 years of experience, plus the near-obsessive attention by the Castello di Querceto team in vineyard and winemaking cellar, both guarantees of authentic, classic Chianti Classico wines, each an impressive marriage of aristocratic austerity and excellent structure.

“We strive, constantly and ever more sensitively, to infuse into our wines the entire wealth of our experience and passion, since each of our wines is an ambassador to the world of our winemaking philosophy and of our terroir here at Castello di Querceto,” concludes Simone François, who supports his father Alessandro in directing the winery.

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Castello di Querceto, property of the François family and one of the founders of the Consorzio del Vino Chianti Classico in 1924, lies in a small valley in the high hills in Greve in Chianti. The estate, with its agriturism, Castello, and luxuriant park, includes 65 hectares of vineyards. The denomination wine, Chianti Classico, the long-standing estate standard-bearer, is produced in a number of interpretations: standard and Riserva, and two Gran Selezione crus, Il Picchio and La Corte. The portfolio contains a number of IGT crus, the fruit of zonation studies carried out by Alessandro François.

I veroni, Chianti Rufina Riserva Quona

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The name I Veroni is derived from the wide terraces surrounding the farm where many years ago tobacco leaf and grain from the Arno valley was dried.  For some time, Lorenzo Mariani, the dedicated winemaker of the I Veroni vineyard in Chianti Rufina, near Florence, had been thinking about developing his wines and giving them new impetus. The new labels were presented for the two most famous wines of the farm, Chianti Rufina and Chianti Rufina Reserve. Both wines are now produced exclusively from the grapes of a single vineyard and are named after the origin.

Today the farm which lies in the Pontassieve Hills (240-280 meters), spreads over 50 hectares and is close to the church of S.Martino a Quona. The vineyards cover 15 hectares and 20 hectares are planted with olives.

I Veroni now has a dynamic range of 3 distinct Chianti Rufina wines which are true to the authentic character of the Sangiovese- Rufina tradition and 4 IGT wines : two red wines , a Rose’ and White blend .

We tasted: Chianti Rufina Riserva Quona 2014 DOCG

I Veroni Chianti Rufina Reserve is produced with a long fermentation with only selected Sangiovese , this wine is aged in French oak barrels of 500 litres for 16-18 months before being bottled and stored for a further period of 8-10 months.

On the nose has hints of black fruits, ripe red fruit, spicy aromas, notes of tobacco and a limited presence of oak. The palate is full and velvety, with a well-integrated tannic component, long in the finish. Ideal in paring with pasta and risotto with meat sauces, red meat and seasoned cheese.

 

In the heart of Chianti: la Castellina winery #chianti #tuscany #wine

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La castellina Rugiada

If you are looking for an enjoyable and relaxing holiday, immerse yourself in the peaceful and uncontaminated nature of “La Ferrozzola” guest house, in the heart of Chianti, in Tuscany. Not too far from that, in the historic centre of the medieval village of Castellina, there are the wonderful Hotel “Palazzo Squarcialupi”, full of elegant rooms and old paintings, and the family farm, excellent synthesis of history and nature.

The winery has its origins from the past properties of the noble Squarcialupi family. Today, the farm belongs to the Bojola-Targioni, Monica Targioni and her husband Tommaso Bojola have been restored the property and took care of vineyards with great passion and devotion over the years. The farm is exactly settled in the amazing Palazzo Squarcialupi, with its cellars and shop, where family organizes wine tours to discover cellars and taste wine, as well as workshops about family and farm history.

The farm produces red, white and rosé wines, grappa, extra virgin olive oil and the traditional Vinsanto, typical Italian dessert wine. These wines are multifaceted, with particular blend of flavors, wild fruit scents and nuances of spices.

The most sought wine is the Chianti Classico, with its intense ruby color.

We were very pleased to taste the white wine called “Rugiada”. It is made up of 50% of Chardonnay grape and 50% of Malvasia del Chianti. All grapes are hand harvested. With its characteristic intense straw-yellow hue, this wine is lightly aromatic of powerful tropical fruits notes and fresh white flowers nose.

A balanced wine with a lovely almond aftertaste. It needs to be seasoned for six/eight months, poured into appropriate French oak barrels.

Fine accompaniments: pasta, risotto, fish, poultry.

La Castellina website: http://www.lacastellina.it/index_en.asp

Valentina Gagliano