Product Description
Toscana IGT
Varieties
Sangiovese
The Vineyard
A Cru born in 1974 and produced only in the best years with Sangiovese grapes from the homonymous vineyard 400m above sea level. An intense wine with grand aromas and a long, noble persistence, Montesodi has always been considered the best expression of Sangiovese del Castello Nipozzano.
From this portion of land, which has always been known as Montesodi (“Hard Mountain”) due to the stony nature of the terrain, the first Chianti Rufina Cru was born in 1974. For me, it represents the wine of my youth and my most treasured memories at Castello Nipozzano, an extremely elegant and vivacious Sangiovese that still has the ability to thrill me, decades later.
ESTATE AND VINEYARD LOCATION: Castello Nipozzano
ALTITUDE 400 m (1312 feet)
VINEYARD SIZE 18 hectares
EXPOSURE Southwest
SOIL TYPE Dry and rocky limestone, calcareous clay, well drained and poor in organic substances.
PLANTING DENSITY 5,850 vines per hectare
TRAINING SYSTEM Guyot
The Harvest
In 2015, the ripening of the grapes was excellent thanks to the long summer, the high temperatures and the favourable climate. Winter made an appearance only in the second week of February, slowing down the plants’ awakening by about ten days. Spring began in earnest on March 21. The flowering phase was favoured by the alternating sunny and mild days, and lower than average rainfall when compared to the previous five years. Summer will be remembered as one of the warmest and sunniest of the past decade. July, in particular, was noteworthy for reaching temperatures above 30°C with very little rainfall. The beneficial rains of the first week of August once again modified the season’s rhythm, leading to a Sangiovese being harvested before the last rainfall of the beginning of October.
The Cellar
LENGTH OF MACERATION ON THE SKINS 30 days
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION Immediately following initial fermentation
MATURATION METHOD Large Austrian and French 30hl ovals
LENGTH OF MATURATION 18 months in oak and 6 months in the bottle.
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME 14,50%
BOTTLE FORMATS Bottle, Magnum (1,5 l), Double Magnum (3 l)
Awards
GAMBERO ROSSO 3 Bicchieri
JAMESSUCKLING.COM 93 Points
VITAE 4 Viti
WINE ENTHUSIAST 90 Points
