TERRAZZE CHIANTI CLASSICO
2016 Riserva Castagnoli
Grapes | Sangiovese |
Colour | Red |
Origin | Italy, Tuscany |
Other | Certified Organic |
District | Chianti |
Sub-district | Chianti Classico |
ABV | 14.5% |
Tasting great now, it has been drinking well for a couple of years - why wouldn't you want this with new season grouse? Grown in very hard-to-manage narrow terraces on a precipitous slope, with each vine on a pole, so everything has to be done by hand. Undoubtedly hideously hard work but the result is one of the most complete and refined wines in Chianti. Firm black cherry on the nose, a fullness and supple richness on the mid-palate. Full of fresh fruit notes. Juicy with wonderful acidity that drives on and on carrying the beautifully pert fruit lively to the end. Real pep and jolt. Blue, black and red berries up front, with hits of leather too and chew of dark toffee, then a burst of wonderful purple flowers and some fresh tobacco leaf. An enthralling horizontal freshness holds the attention and keeps you coming back for more. Superb, well laden Chianti with power and yet real grace and delicacy in the impressive length. L&S (Mar 2023)
12 | ||
*Case price discount: Mix any 12 bottles of wine (or 9 litre equivalent) or 6 bottles of Champagne, Spirits, Sweet Wine or Fortified (4.5 litres) to get the discounted 'case price' for each bottle.
Castagnoli
The first mention of Castagnoli was as early as the year 979, when it was an abbey. Centuries later it became the home of a noble Florentine family. The name recalls the previous existence of a chestnut forest.
The wines produced here are a true reflection of the hard work that has been undertaken by the current owners, the Shefernacker family, who are also wine producers in Württemberg. They are fully organic, and use some biodynamic preparations and principles, but are not fully biodynamic. Today the vineyard is about 11 ha in production, of which about 4.5 is on the terraces, interspersed with olive trees, planted on soils with a mix of galestro, loam, limestone and schist, at between 360 and 420m. Two-thirds of the total estate is forest which which helps to regulate temperatures.
The vineyard was planted from 1978, and they decided to make narrow stone terraces on a steep south and south-westerly-facing slope. The Sangiovese vines were planted each supported by one stake, like the albarelli of Etna. The current generation may rue this choice as these terraces and the way of training the vines both entail an enormous amount of manual work. However, the quality of the 'Terrazze' Riserva is indisputable.
The cool, high terrain gives elegant, long-ripened Sangiovese, and although they have experimented with other varieties, it is this which really shines here.
The team here is led by Tim Schefernacker (pictured with his young Maremma Sheepdog Lucie), helped by Filippo (winemaker) with Michele, Stefano and Davide in the vineyards and winery.
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