Tag Archives: Sangiovese

Tenuta Luce The Luce harvest 2020 Grapes with perfect maturation

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The yield 2020 is in the cellar. Unique like all the previous vintages, with grapes of high quality.
“Winter was largely dry and mild, conditions that ushered in an early but even budbreak, beginning in the second week of March for Sangiovese and the third week for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. A sunny spring, with some rainfall in May, set the stage for a slightly early but excellent flowering around 25 May, followed by a rapid fruit-set. Summer proved hot and sunny, with almost no rainfall, but sporadic rain in the first three weeks in June had the beneficial effect of preparing the vines to cope well with heat, and the result was a welcome gradual ripening.  In the final week of August, two spells of rain gave relief to the vines and lowered temperatures, allowing the vines to fully complete the ripening process. The harvesting of the first Merlot parcels for Lucente began on 3 September, followed on 10 September with the Merlot for Luce. The grapes were sound and healthy, with ideal ripeness levels; they also showed significant aromatic qualities, thanks to wide day-night temperature differentials over the final weeks of the harvest. We stated picking the Sangiovese on 16 September, and continued through the last week in September. On 30 September, illuminated by a brilliant sun, picking of the Cabernet Sauvignon dedicated to Lux Vitis brought the harvest to a triumphant close.” – Lamberto Frescobaldi
Passion, in a particular year like this, is a modality used all days at Tenuta Luce, in each activity in vineyard and cellar.
Tenuta Luce, founded at the beginning of the 1990s, is an 88 hectares estate of well-tended vineyards located in Montalcino. Thanks to the farsightedness of the owners, the Frescobaldi family, Tenuta Luce brings to life unique wines, bearing the extraordinary qualities of its territory combined with its strong personality. In a short period of time it has risen to be ranked among the most renowned wineries in Tuscany.Its portfolio consists of the standard-bearer Luce, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary with vintage 2017; the second vin Lucente; the Luce Brunello as tribute to Montalcino’s oenological tradition, and few precious bottles of Lux Vitis, a Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Sangiovese.

Chianti Classico Castello di Querceto Riserva

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The Castello di Querceto and the land that surrounds it are rich in history. If in the past the Castello’s role was to stand guard on the via Cassia Imperiale, one of ancient Rome’s main ‘highways’ in order to defend its territory.

castello-di-querceto_riservaThe Castello di Querceto is today run by Alessandro and Antonietta François. Together they have worked to position the Castello’s wines within the top flight of Chianti’s producers.

The Castello’s vineyards are positioned on two sides of a valley: from the Passo del Sugame and, beyond Dudda, towards Lucolena and Monte San Michele.

The vines are trained in what, for Chianti, are the traditional methods: the horizontal Cordon spur trained onto wires at 60 cms, and the Guyot.

Sangiovese takes first place among the red varieties, but there are also smaller plantings of Canaiolo, Colorino, Mammolo, Ciliegiolo, Malvasia Nera, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot. As for the whites, they are the traditional Malvasia del Chianti and Trebbiano Toscano, now joined also by Chardonnay.

The vines are grown with only two interests in mind: top quality grapes, and the ecological compatibility of their production.

We tasted: Chianti Classico Castello di Querceto Riserva 2013

The Chianti Classico Riserva is produced from a selection from all of the 60 hectares of vineyards. Of 90% Sangiovese, the remaining 10% is made up of Canaiolo and other traditional autochthonous red grape varieties.

The maturation is made in oak barrels for 10 -12 months and refinement in bottle for a minimum of 4 months.

 It is a brilliant ruby-red, very balanced, with soft and elegant body. In the nose appear notes of berries and liquorice. The food pairing matches perfectly with roasted meats and seasoned cheese.

Gagliole Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

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The lofty cypresses, the stepped terraces, the hedgerows interwoven with roses, aromatic herbs, and shrubs—these are the elements that comprise Gagliole’s welcome to its guests.

The Antico Podere Gagliole, located in the classic Chianti-area, is a modern winery that boasts almost 20 hectares of vineyards, on two different sites, one in Castellina in Chianti and the other in the Conca d’Oro in Panzano. 10 hectares include Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, at a significant elevation of 500-550 metres; the vines are planted in predominantly galestro-rich soils that are rocky and nutrient poor, but with abundant mineral content. The winery produces also Tuscany IGTs for its white wines, Colli della Toscana Centrale for its reds, and, of gagliole_igtcourse, Chianti Classico.

We tasted: Gagliole 2013 Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

The most impressive expression of the estate, from which it takes its name, is Gagliole, its grapes a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The clusters are given a meticulous quality-selection in the vineyard, followed by a second selection of the berries on the sorting tables in the cellar, after which the berries are given a fermentation-maceration in oak barrels lasting almost 60 days.  Eighteen months of maturation in oak, 30% new, ensure that the wine will fully exhibit its fascination, its rich, floral bouquet, with hints of spice, and its full-volumed body and densely-woven tannins.

 

Padelletti winery #tuscany #montalcino #wine

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Brunello Padelletti

In Montalcino town, close to Siena, in the beautiful area nearby Monte Amiata and Val d’Orcia, Padelletti family is one of the oldest and famous vintner, since 1571.

All members of the family have been involved in military and political affairs of their hometown. They have traveled abroad for work reasons, however they have always been maintained a close bond with their land and never forgot to take care of their winery and enrich family tradition with modernity and innovation they have experienced during their several trips abroad.

The wines produced by the family have incredible features due to the fertile soil, in which vineyards are extended. Thanks to this particular ground, rich in water and cinders, coming from eruptions of Monte Amiata, the wine is characterized by aroma and notes extremely hard to reproduce.

In order to have a very high quality wine, family members carry out a meticulous selection of fine red grapes (Sangiovese grape) every year. Among about 480 quintals of grapes, only 100 quintals are chosen, for a maximum production of 7000/8000 bottles of wine. The result is a full-bodied red wine, the so-called “Brunello”, well known for its special intense colour and strong taste, a combination of history and culture.

Brunello is aged in barrels made of the Slavonic wood for many years, a valuable type of wood, that has made the wine very expensive. A really high level of tannins is contained in these barrels, so it is important to constantly control wine, in order to avoid to have an unpleasant taste.

The two iconic wines produced by Padelletti family are Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino, powerful wines but gentle and velvety wines at the same time. By tasting these strong flavoured wines, your palate will be overwhelmed by vivid emotions.

They are perfect to be paired with red and white meat, salmon and tuna.

Padelletti wine estate website: http://www.padelletti.it/azienda_en.html

Valentina Gagliano