Monteraponi Chianti 2022

This Chianti Classico comes from Monteraponi, a former medieval hamlet perched on the heights of Radda in Chianti, in the province of Siena, in the heart of Tuscany. The estate overlooks the valley running down towards the Arbia and farms its vines at 450 to 570 metres above sea level, in an unspoilt setting of oak and chestnut woods. The very stony soils combine limestone, marl and galestro, the schistous rock emblematic of Chianti. This high-altitude site brings freshness to the Sangiovese and gives the wine a precise, mineral and elegant expression.

The grapes are harvested by hand, then vinified in glass-lined concrete tanks. Fermentation is spontaneous, with no selected yeasts or temperature control, followed by about 25 days of skin maceration with daily manual pump-overs and punch-downs. Malolactic fermentation also takes place spontaneously in concrete. Ageing continues for at least 16 months in large oval French and Slavonian oak casks, then for a further month in concrete. The wine is bottled by gravity, without fining or filtration.

This wine reveals notes of violet and dried flowers, followed by a basket of raspberry, red cherry and redcurrant. Hints of green pepper, sweet spices and orange peel extend the bouquet, while a touch of wet stone points to its limestone origins. The palate combines a slender, savoury texture with lively acidity and silky yet well-defined tannins. The fresh, mineral, persistent finish keeps plenty of energy.

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!