Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC 2009

Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC 2009 / Castello di Albola / Tuscany

Dessert wine from Italy

The medieval village of Castello di Albola rises on the magnificent Chianti hills halfway between the cities of Florence and Siena. Here, where the Etruscans had their homeland and Giovanni Boccaccio had his Decameron played, you will find the winegrowers of Castello di Albola. In this area, which exudes an incredible beauty and a timeless harmony, the winery cultivates 125 hectares of vines on the highest hills of the Chianti Classico.

Although the Vin Santo has the addition of Chianti Classico in its name, it is not made from the Sangiovese grape variety. Instead, this famous dessert wine is made from the Trebbiano and Malvasia grape varieties. The white grape variety Trebbiano is one of the oldest varieties in Italy. It is grown on almost the entire Apennine Peninsula. In the Modena region, the famous "Aceto Balsamico di Modena" is made from this grape variety. Malvasia is a collective name for many white and red grape varieties. Most of these strains are of ancient Greek origin. For example, the famous Portuguese liqueur wine Madeira is made from a Malvasia variety. As wines made from this variety have fallen somewhat out of fashion - due to its heavy and sweet taste - it is often used to refine other wines.

The grape-growing area is in Pian d'Albola, on the hills in the urban area of Radda in Chianti near Siena, facing south. The area is characterized by a pedogenetic substrate with a clayey Albere texture, which the presence of a skeleton confers good permeability to. The climate is hot and dry. Harvesting is manual to carefully select the best grapes. The fruits are then brought into a so-called Appassitoio, where they can dry with perfect ventilation. Over time, the water contained in the berries evaporates, increasing the concentration of sugar in them. At the end of the drying phase, which runs from December to March, only the healthy, i.e., not rotten or mouldy, grapes are destemmed and then pressed.

To mature, the must is placed in the Caratelli, small wooden barrels made of unroasted European oak staves, which has a positive effect on the organoleptic properties of the Vin Santo. Now, however, the high sugar concentration in the must would complicate the biological activity during maturation. For this reason, an inoculation now takes place with the so-called "mother". The mother consists of colonies of different yeasts that come from previous vinifications. This exceptional wine matures for around eight years. A long fermentation takes place, but the natural temperature and pressure fluctuations that occur at times are stimulated or suppressed.

With its warm golden yellow, the Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC from Castello di Albola exudes a full and complex fragrance curtain with aromas of apricots, dry yellow fruits, citrus peel, figs, dates, honey, roasted almonds, vanilla and soft spices. On the palate, this wine is seductive, multi-faceted and of great aromatic intensity. The mouth is filled with a warm and silky velvety sweetness. And yet he keeps his balance. The finale is of extraordinary length.

At an optimal drinking temperature of around 12 to 14°C, this traditional dessert wine goes well with dry pastries, rich cakes, or chocolate. Also exceptional with Pecorino and blue cheeses such as Gorgonzola.

General properties

• Vintage: 2009
• Ageing: Sweet
• Country: Italy
• Region: Tuscany
• Volume: 0,5 liters

Detailed properties

• Producer and bottler: Castello d'Albola - Via Pian d’Albola, 31 - 53017 Radda in Chianti (Siena) - Italia - +39 0577 738019
• Quality Designation: Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)
• Grape varieties: Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia del Chianti.
  
• Soil type: The growing area is in Pian d'Albola, on the hills in the urban area of Radda in Chianti near Siena, facing south. The area is characterized by a pedogenic substrate with a clayey Alberes texture, which the presence of a skeleton gives good permeability. The climate is hot and dry.
• Training method: Capovolto Toscano (Bow education).
  
• Winemaking and aging: The vinification takes place in typical Tuscan barrels with a variable capacity between 100 and 200 litres. In the must, from grapes previously dried on racks, an inoculation with the so-called "mother" takes place. The mother consists of colonies of different yeasts from previous vinifications. This exceptional wine takes about 8 years to mature. Fermentation takes place for a long time, but the natural temperature and pressure fluctuations that occur at times are stimulated or suppressed.
• Sensory characteristics: On the nose a wonderfully full and complex curtain of fragrances with aromas of apricots, dry yellow fruits, citrus peel, figs, dates, honey, roasted almonds, vanilla, and soft spices. Seductive, multifaceted and of great aromatic intensity on the palate. The mouth is filled with a warm and silky, velvety sweetness. And yet he keeps his balance. The finale is extraordinarily long.
  
• Color: Warm golden yellow with luminous reflections that tends to be amber.
• Alcohol content: 16 % Vol.
• Residual sugar: 120,0 g/l
• Stopper: Natural cork
• How to serve: This wonderful dessert wine goes perfectly with dry pastries or chocolate.
  
• Recommended serving temperature: Between 12 and 14°C.
• Allergens: Contains sulfites
• EAN (bottle): 8002235000994
• Scope of supply: 1 bottle of wine 0.5 liters

Grape variety

TREBBIANO

The white grape variety TREBBIANO is one of the oldest varieties in Italy. It is grown on almost the entire Apennine Peninsula. The famous "Aceto Balsamico di Modena" is made from this grape variety in the Modena region.

MALVASIA

MALVASIA is a collective name for many white and red grape varieties. Most of these varieties are ancient Greek origin. For example, the famous Portuguese fortified wine Madeira is made from a variety Malvasia. As the wines from this variety - because of their heavy and sweet taste - have fallen somewhat out of fashion, is often used to refine other wines.

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