Monteraponi Baron Ugo 2019

Baron'Ugo is born on the heights of Monteraponi, in Radda in Chianti, at the heart of the historic Chianti Classico zone in the province of Siena. This singular plot overlooks the estate at 570 metres above sea level, among the highest vineyards in the area. The vines, more than forty years old, draw their identity from a stony, calcareous soil rich in alberese and galestro. Farmed under certified organic agriculture, this cool high-altitude terroir encourages a sleek, luminous and deeply mineral expression of Sangiovese and the native grape varieties that accompany it.

The grapes from the Baron'Ugo plot are harvested and vinified separately. Fermentation starts spontaneously in glass-lined concrete tanks, without temperature control or added yeasts. A maceration of 30 to 35 days on the skins is carried out with daily manual pump-overs and punch-downs, then malolactic fermentation occurs spontaneously. The wine then spends at least 36 months in large oval casks of French or Slavonian oak, followed by 3 months in concrete and a further 6 months in bottle. It is neither filtered nor fined.

This wine reveals notes of black cherry and redcurrant, lifted by a floral register of violet and rose. Hints of forest floor, wet stone, fine leather and dark chocolate complete this complex bouquet, with a balsamic touch reminiscent of Mediterranean herbs. The palate is sleek and precise, carried by energetic acidity and a mineral backbone. The fine, well-defined tannins frame deep fruit without weighing it down, while the fresh, harmonious and lingering finish extends the earthy and spicy accents.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful hedonistic country, home of the Dolce Vita, but how hard it is to understand how its wine is organised! The key to understanding Italy's appellation system is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single uniform one, since each region has its own appellation system. Yet Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavours and styles, as well as bottles full of surprise and creativity. Unfortunately it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most useful and commercially renowned names: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others... But let us talk a little history: winegrowing in Italy goes back to the most distant antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and changed the grape varieties, later calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and some regions already stood out for the excellence of their produce. The Romans also planted many vineyards across Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquests. Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a fairly harsh mountain climate. The plain in the "middle of the boot" has a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. The "south of the boot" enjoys a Mediterranean climate with very hot, very dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a great variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of them native to its land. It is a country just as complex as its wines, and well worth exploring!