Monteraponi Il Campitello 2021

Il Campitello comes from a historic plot of Monteraponi in Radda in Chianti, at the heart of the Chianti Classico area in Tuscany. Lying at 420 metres above sea level, this vineyard of more than forty years is the oldest on the estate. Set apart from the other vines and surrounded by woodland, it is farmed as a cru in its own right. The galestro soils mixed with clay, the altitude and the forest surroundings shape a fresh, deep and savoury expression. The vines are farmed under certified organic agriculture, in a hilly landscape emblematic of upper Chianti.

The grapes are harvested by hand, sorted and then crushed while keeping the skins intact. Alcoholic fermentation is spontaneous, carried out without added yeasts or temperature control in glass-lined concrete tanks. A maceration of 30 to 35 days goes hand in hand with daily manual pump-overs and punch-downs, followed by a spontaneous malolactic fermentation. Ageing continues for at least 26 months in large oval casks of French or Slavonian oak, then for a further 3 months in concrete. The wine is bottled by gravity, without fining or filtration.

This wine reveals notes of ripe black cherry, red fruit and wild berries, complemented by hints of tobacco, spice and aromatic herbs. Touches of fennel, gentian and a mineral note reminiscent of alabaster underline its terroir character. The palate is deep, compact and enveloping, carried by fresh acidity and marked salinity. The fine yet present tannins give structure to a dense, persistent wine with a long, flavoursome finish.

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!