Castello Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG (750ml)
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Wine Type
Red Wine
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Country
Italy
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Size
750ml
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Food Pairing
CheesePasta with Tomato SauceRed Meat
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Sub-Region
Chianti Classico
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Grape
CanaioloColorinoSangiovese
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Region
Tuscany
It was 1961 when Aldo Bianchi purchased Castello di Monsanto in the Chianti Classico zone of Tuscany. His son Fabrizio, who today oversees the estate with his daughter Laura is deeply connected to this land and its wines. Monsanto holds a unique wine legacy, as it was in 1962 when Fabrizio decided to separately vinify the grapes from his Il Poggio vineyard, where Sangiovese still reigns today. A choice that was risky for the times perhaps, but it turned out to be a great success not only for Monsanto, but also for Sangiovese, which was appreciated again from that moment on. And thus the first Cru of Chianti Classico came to be, an eyewitness to how the past made room for the ideas of the future This was only the starting point of a long and incredible journey in the constant search for quality.
Monsanto is located in the central-western part of one of the most beautiful areas of Italy, Chianti Classico. Here, in the largest area Sangiovese is grown between Florence and Siena, crops coexist harmoniously with the surrounding nature which contributes to a truly unique quality. More precisely, Castello di Monsanto is part of the sub-zone of San Donato in Poggio, where pure wines fearlessly withstand the test of time and are characterized by their boldness and backbone of crisp acidity. Tasting Notes
In the glass the wine is ruby red tending towards garnet. The aroma is pronounced, intense, complex with notes of black cherry and spice. The wine is rich, intense and complex with excellent depth of red berry fruit, distinct spice, outstanding acidity and nicely weighted tannins. Open in advance and allow to breathe. An exceptional compliment to red meats, roasts, game and hearty pastas
Method
Along with the terrain, the climate is another significant element of the wines of Castello di Monsanto. The vineyards look out across the Elsa Valley, where mistral winds blow in directly from the Tyrrhenian Sea to mitigate the winters and cool the summers. This improves the grapes’ health by decreasing the humidity and creating night-day temperature fluctuations that are important for the development of aromas in the fruit. The vineyards, located between 280 and 320 metres above sea level, benefit from a microclimate that allows Sangiovese to ripen uniformly most years.
This wine is made from estate grown blend of 90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo and Colorino. From Monsanto – Barberino Val d’Elsa estate vineyards in the Chianti Classico appellation. This wine is classified as a “Riserva”, meaning that it represents a more structured and fuller version of Chianti Classico. Chianti Classico Riserva must have a minimum 12.5% abv and must be aged for a minimum of 24 months, including 3 in the bottle. Wines can of course exceed these minimums. For this particular one the grapes are hand-picked at optimum ripeness. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel at controlled temperatures and the wine ages in 18 months in French oak barriques.
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